In a letter addressed to the Council’s Chairman Idle Farah, Matiang’i stated that he was concerned at the manner in which Njoroge was investigated and subsequently sacked in May/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 4 – Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has ordered the University of Nairobi (UoN) council to immediately reinstate sacked Deputy Vice-Chancellor Bernard Njoroge.
In a letter addressed to the Council’s Chairman Idle Farah, Matiang’i stated that he was concerned at the manner in which Njoroge was investigated and subsequently sacked in May.
“I decline to consider the recommendations for want of probity in your investigations and a clear case of conflict of interest among the Council members on the matter. I therefore direct that Prof Bernard Njoroge’s suspension be lifted. He should resume his responsibilities as the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance with immediate effect,” the CS indicated in his letter.
He pointed out that the committee could have done the investigations in a more professional manner and considered the issue as a clear case of conflict of interest among its members.
“I have carefully reviewed the report of the Ad Hoc committee and its recommendations on Prof. Njoroge. I have also noted with concern the manner in which the council took up its responsibility over the disciplinary process,” he said.
He accused the committee of not interviewing Njoroge or the institution’s Vice-Chancellor Peter Mbithi on the matter.
“There are two parties to the case at hand. Both the DVC and vice-chancellor have made damning allegations against each other. The DVC makes allegations against the VC on the procurement process in repair of the vice chancellor’s official residence, as well as well as for financial malpractices related to the Naivasha retreat,” Matiang’i noted.
He stated that the committee could have done the investigations in a more professional manner.
“To say the least, it could have been done in a more professional manner. I find the whole disciplinary process as a sham, an exercise in witch hunt and one that violates the Law of Contract, as well as Articles 10 and 47 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010,” he said.
The council had terminated the contract of Njoroge as the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Administration and Finance following months of infighting with his boss, Prof Mbithi.
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