Top officials at Moi University have been summoned for questioning today by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives over alleged embezzlement of Sh2.2 billion through fraudulent infrastructure projects.
The senior officials on the radar of the EACC include Vice-Chancellor Isaac Kosgey, Chief Accountant Egla Samoei, Head of Procurement Wilson Bett and Head of the Development Unit Moses Kipkulei.
They are to present themselves for questioning at the commission’s Eldoret office.
The summons come in the wake of a prolonged standoff between the university management and workers who have been on strike for two months over non-payment of their salaries and other dues amounting to Sh8.6 billion.
But the management on Monday evening issued a statement saying that staff salaries have been paid up to September and that funds for October are also available but subject to the employees resuming work.
EACC 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 two schools.
The commission is also investigating alleged corruption in the award of tender for the proposed construction of phase II of a library at the university’s Annex Campus to Builders & Associates Civil Engineering Works at Sh1.1 billion, and Sh169 million Sh169 million electrical installation works.
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 part of the ongoing probe.
A statement by EACC 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.
Mr Ngumbi said EACC has focused on public universities where vice-chancellors and other top officials are directly or indirectly facilitating or abetting corruption and unethical practices.
“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 Wednesday, November 20 2024 at 9.00 am,” reads the EACC statement.
The VC has been instructed to provide a number of original documents, including minutes of 18 special meetings.
Also under investigation is a request for a proposal for design and preparation of bidding documents and construction supervision at the amphitheatre in the main campus, a request for a proposal to procure consultancy services for the design and review of tender documents and supervision of the proposed digital innovation centre, relocation of the main gate and completion of the workshop building.
Although the university reopened last week, staff who are strike are yet to receive their salary arrears even after an indication that the National Treasury had disbursed Sh3.5 billion to cater for the same.
A week ago, the Committee on Education of the National Assembly toured the university’s main campus in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County, and recommended that the management board be disbanded and a caretaker team appointed.
The Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education of the National Assembly has also asked Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu to carry out a forensic audit of the university’s books of accounts.
The committee further recommended the suspension of all projects at the university and the hiring of new employees until the audit is concluded.
