Learning has been suspended at the South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) in Kitui after the students rejected the Vice Chancellor.
According to the students, the newly appointed Vice Chancelor (VC) Professor Douglas Shitanda was incompetent.
Moreover, the students held demonstrations, demanding the removal of Professor Shitanda from the institution.
Further, they claimed that Shitanda had led three other institutions but had not been successful. They now want the Ministry of Education to promote one of the professors who has been serving at the institution.
“We have had concerns about the VC who was appointed to this institution. We have asked questions about him and have not gotten any response.
“We are afraid that he will disappoint us and destroy this good institution that we all love,” David Mwangangi, the Chairperson postgraduate students in SEKU stated.
Locals Air Their Grievances About Shitanda
Additionally, traders in the area joined in the protest against Shitanda taking over the operations of the school, adding that both the community and the students opposed the appointment.
Further, they feared that if the demonstrations continued, business in the area would be affected, adding that they depended on their trade to earn a living.
“We are worried about this situation because the students and the community has rejected that vice chancellor. If the strikes continue, it will affect our business,” one of the traders lamented.
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Other Grievances at the University
Earlier on September 17, the university staff reached out to the Ministry of Education demanding an address within a month.
According to the staff, the university had been operating without a vice chancellor or a chancellor, paralyzing key activities in the institution including the graduations ceremony.
The campus is scheduled to have a graduation ceremony in October. Typically, it is the role of the chancellor to confer degrees and diplomas for the graduating students.
Further, the university staff lamented that they had not received their annual salary increment for four years. They asked the Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu to address the matter urgently and allow the institution to continue with its operations.
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Machogu Appointments New VCs
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu announced the appointment of 13 new vice chancellors in universities across the country on August 25, 2023.
Machogu appointed Prof. Douglas Shitanda to be in charge of the South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU).
The VC is responsible for policy matters, planning, coordination, public relations, fund raising, and general development of the university.
