The Parliamentary Public Investments Committee (PIC) on Education Governance has expressed concern with how some education institutions are run in the country.
Led by Bumula Member of Parliament, Jack Wamboka, the committee revealed that the University of Eldoret had its finance officer and administration registrar working in an acting capacity for over five years.
University of Eldoret Vice Chancellor Prof. Thomas Cheruyoit had a difficult time explaining why the two staff members have been serving in an acting capacity for 10 years and 6 years respectively.
The committee noted that this was in breach of Section 34 of the Public Service Commission Act, 2017, Section 34(3) which stipulates that public officers may be appointed in an acting capacity for a period of at least thirty days, but not exceeding six months.
“It is this committee’s duty to streamline the education industry, and we are going after all rogue, incompetent, and unqualified officers. We will remain committed to ensuring the education sector is back to its towering position”, pledged Hon. Wamboka.
Unable to offer satisfactory responses, Prof. Cheruyoit was asked to reappear again before the committee accompanied by his predecessor and the entire University Council to shed light on circumstances leading to the breach of law.
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Education Committe Raises Mismanagement Concerns
On the management of Aldai Technical Training Institute, the lawmakers noted that a review of their financial report had returned adverse opinions. The report uncovered that the institution lacked qualified officers while most of the positions had been designed to fit specific people.
They sought an explanation as to why as of 2018, the institution did not have an ISPAK registered accountant in office. Further, the committee observed that the current finance manager holds a CPA-4 qualification contrary to the required qualification of CPA-K for the position.
Members found the officer to be unfit to serve in the office, undertaking to recommend in their report that the matter be taken up by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for further probing.
Following further scrutiny of the report, the Committee also noted that all newly recruited personnel were from the same community, which is contrary to section 7 (1) and (2) of the National Cohesion and Integration Act, 2008.
The Principal Mrs Sallie Lukuyu was directed to carry out affirmative strategies to ensure that the matter is addressed, and the institution carries the face of Kenya.
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More Institutions Questioned
The committee also grilled current and former principals of Kajiado West Vocational Training Institute over audit matters attributed to them. The former Principal Dr. Lumumba Achieng was put to task over a payment made to him of Kshs.182,000 for meals and accommodation for the period starting from February 1, 2018, to February 28, 2018, whose basis and authority were not provided.
Dr. Lumumba in his defense made an attempt to explain that it was a way of cost cutting. However, the committee adamant on the illegality committed by the principal, stated that they would make a recommendation on the penalty in their report to the House later.
Further, Members sought to know the circumstances under which the college had entered into a contract with a local company for the proposed erection and completion of a twin workshop, classrooms, and office blocks (2-storey). The proposed Langata Technical and Vocational College contract dated May 23, 2019, at a sum of Kshs.56,828,963 was to commence on June 12, 2019, for a period of 52 weeks.
The contract period was expected to run to June 12, 2020, with a revised completion time of February 7, 2021.
However, the site status report dated October 19, 2021, from the resident engineer indicated that the project’s overall status is 65 percent complete.
The Committee resolved to invite the principal, Dr. Jane M’Ringera to provide all relevant information and cautioned the principal and board of governors to adhere to the Public Procurement and Disposal Act (PPADA) 2015 and its regulations.
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