In his report, Auditor-General Edward Ouko accuses the institution of having entered into huge illegal contract variations, irregular procurement, failing to present cash books for audit and keeping cash unbanked and unaccounted for contrary to proper accounting procedures.
The EACC in its part is investigating a wide range of claims against the university boss including graft, abuse of office and unethical behaviour by trying to cover up the past vices and prevent investigators from obtaining documents from the institution directly.
The VC, who is serving his first term which is ending next year, has also been accused of ethnic bias, unethical conduct and involvement in financial management at the institution.
For the past one week, an ominous dark cloud has been swirling over Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), thrusting the institution’s Vice Chancellor Frederick Otieno into the spotlight.
From a damning report by the Auditor-General’s office alleging irregular expenditure of funds amounting to Sh362 million in the year to June 2016, to an ongoing probe by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the build-up of pressure on the management of the Kakamega-based varsity has been intense.
In his report, Auditor-General Edward Ouko accuses the institution of having entered into huge illegal contract variations, irregular procurement, failing to present cash books for audit and keeping cash unbanked and unaccounted for contrary to proper accounting procedures. The EACC in its part is investigating a wide range of claims against the university boss including graft, abuse of office and unethical behaviour by trying to cover up the past vices and prevent investigators from obtaining documents from the institution directly.
The VC, who is serving his first term which is ending next year, has also been accused of ethnic bias, unethical conduct and involvement in financial management at the institution.
But in the midst of this storm, the VC maintains that he is innocent and would fight all the claims levelled against him.
“I wish to reiterate that I’m totally innocent. I am not corruptible. Cartels that I broke up in MMUST when I took over in December 2013 are fighting back. My late parents inculcated the virtues of honesty and hard work in me,” Prof Otieno says. He adds: “God remains my witness in all these tribulations. I continue to pray and believe in him for protection.”
The EACC has written to the University Council chaired by Dr Jeremy Bundi seeking to have the VC suspended from office, leaving the fate of the don hanging in the balance.
The situation is quite unlike when Prof Otieno, who was fresh from Durban University in South Africa, strode on to the scene and took up his new job at the university four years ago.
The university was at the time reeling from financial difficulties. But brimming with confidence, the VC pledged to steer the institution to the next level if he got the support of academic staff, workers and the community.
When he assumed office, Prof Otieno said his immediate agenda would be to launch a crusade against cartels involved in corrupt deals and mismanagement of resources contributing to the near collapse of the university.
But Prof Otieno claims the cartels he fought so hard four years ago are now viciously fighting back to drive him out of the way.
“Over the past 12 months or so, I have been falsely accused of crimes I have never and I can never do. I wish to reiterate that I’m totally innocent,” he says.
The VC has been credited for turning around the fortunes of the university since his appointment but the lingering questions touching on his integrity as a public officer could undermine his stewardship. In the last four years, the university management has settled a Sh400million debt owed to suppliers and another Sh1 billion in outstanding arrears to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). Another Sh500 million owed to part-time under the Privately Sponsored Students Programme (PSSP) was also settled in the period.
Despite the positives, Prof Otieno has had a long-drawn confrontation with representatives of unions at the university who perceive him as high handed and arrogant in his management style.
The frosty relation between Prof Otieno and workers at the university have persisted since he took over as the chief executive as he intensified his campaign to clean up the “rot” at the institution.
Prof Otieno said the drastic measures he took after he was appointed the vice chancellor were meant to restore credibility at the institution. “Academic standards had sank to their lowest ever. There was hardly any proper teaching and learning taking place and theft of examinations were rampant. I am proud to report that under my leadership, we have restored academic excellence at MMUST,” said the don who is an engineer by profession.
Besides his teaching job, Prof Otieno has served in the position of non-executive director for different institutions in South Africa.
Despite the uncertainties and turbulence threatening to rock his boat, Prof Otieno says his track record at the institution in the last four years speaks for itself.
He says he took up and completed construction of the stalled 1,000 capacity women’s hostel at the university and a multi-purpose hall that are now operational.
Another key project is the anatomy lab, which has been completed in readiness for the start of the medical school next year in addition to multiple lecture halls and a major office complex.
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