Prof Isaac Kosgey, vice Chancellor of Moi University.
Top management officials of Moi University have been summoned for questioning on Wednesday by the anti-graft agency detectives over alleged embezzlement of Sh2.2 billion through fraudulent infrastructural projects.
The senior officials on the radar of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) include the vice chancellor, Prof Isaac Kosgey, the chief accountant, Egla Samoei, head of procurement, Wilson Bett, and head of the development unit Moses Kipkulei.
They have been asked to present themselves for questioning at the commission’s Eldoret office.
The investigators have moved in to probe reports of massive corruption and theft of public funds at the troubled institution.
The summons come in the wake of a prolonged standoff between the university management and its workers who have been on strike for the last two months over non-payment of their salaries and other dues amounting to Sh8.6 billion.
The management on Monday evening issued a statement saying that staff salaries have been paid up to September 2024 and that funds for October are also available but subject to the staff resuming duties.
The EACC, through its North Rift Regional offices, is investigating among others, allegations of corruption and procurement irregularities by the officials in the proposed construction of the third and fourth floors of the School of Public Health, Dentistry and Nursing, and related works at the College of Sciences involving Sh726 million.
Further, they will be asked to answer questions relating to the expenditure of Sh148 million on electrical works at the School of Public Health, Dentistry, and Nursing and related works at the College of Health Sciences, as well as a plumbing, drainage, and firefighting tender which was unresponsive.
The commission is also investigating alleged corruption in the proposed construction of Phase II of a library at the university’s Annex Campus to Builders & Associates Civil Engineering Works at a contract sum of approximately Sh1.1 billion, and electrical installation works at a contract sum of Sh169 million.
Unresponsive tender
For the same project, the plumbing, drainage, and firefighting tender which was unresponsive, and the mechanical ventilation and air conditioning installation works at a contract sum of Sh35million are also subject of the ongoing probe.
A statement from EACC through his spokesperson Eric Ngumbi on Monday said besides the allegations of presiding over corruption, Prof Kosgei also faces accusations of attempting to interfere with the ongoing investigations and obstructing the commission by failing to submit crucial documents despite several reminders, a criminal offense under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
“In a letter dated Thursday, November 14, 2024 received at the university on the same day, the commission has instructed the vice chancellor to appear in person for an interview and statement recording at the commission’s North Rift Regional Offices in Eldoret on Tuesday, November 20, 2024 at 9.00 am,” said the EACC statement on the VC’s impending grilling.
The VC has been instructed to avail various original documents, including minutes of 18 special meetings.
Also under investigation is a request for a proposal for design preparation of bidding documents and construction supervision at the Amphitheater Building at the main campus, a request for a proposal to procure consultancy services for the design review tender documents and supervision of the proposed digital innovation centre, relocation of the main gate and completion of the workshop building.
The commission is looking into the proposal for consultancy services for the re-designing, preparation of bidding documents, and supervision of the construction of Library Phase II at Moi University Annex Campus.
Mr Ngumbi said EACC has intensified focus in public universities where vice-chancellors and other top officials are directly or indirectly facilitating or abetting corruption and unethical practices, which threatens the quality of higher education in the country.
A week ago, the National Assembly Committee on Education toured the university’s main campus in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County and recommended that the management board be disbanded and that a caretaker team be appointed to take over.
The Public Investments Committee on Education of the National Assembly has also petitioned Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu to carry out a forensic audit of the university’s books of accounts.
The committee recommended the suspension of all projects at the university and the hiring of new staff until the audit is concluded.
Among financial irregularities under probe at the university include failure to remit Sh4 billion in payroll deductions, defaulted on a Sh3 billion loan owed to Rivatex East Africa Limited, and accumulated Sh1.1 billion in unpaid bills as of June 2020.
Although students reported back last week, learning at the university remains paralysed, even after the management issued threats of stern disciplinary action against staff who have not resumed work while effecting mass suspensions.
The Moi University management is yet to strike a return to work deal with striking workers through their unions- University Academic Staff Union (Uasu), Kenya University Staff Union (Kusu), and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions and Hospital Workers, (Kudheiha).
