Although he rose through the ranks at the Ministry of Education to be a deputy director, Laban Ayiro was little known until September 2016 when Education secretary Fred Matiang’i picked him to head Moi University as acting vice-chancellor. He was replacing Richard Mibey, but the transition was tumultuous.
Immediately Prof Ayiro was picked, the quiet life of the educationist would come to an end when regional politicians — including Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago and his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Alex Tolgos — opposed his appointment. There were street protests with claims that the county leaders were pushing for somebody from the locality to head the university.
