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Meru  University of Science and Technology (MUST) academic staff have vowed not to return to work citing threats from some  students. 

Speaking to the People Daily yesterday, the Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU)  Meru chapter chairman Akwalu Mugambi  and his secretary  general Mulwa Munyau said even after the  reinstatement of the vice–chancellor Romanus Odhiambo  on Tuesday, their lives are still in danger and urged all the relevant security agencies to intervene.

“ We cannot dare set  foot in the institution despite it being reopened because our lives are in danger. We have received threats in writing and in the social media and as we talk now, we are recording statements at Meru police station,” said Mugambi.

The official said they have written a letter to the area County Commissioner, the university management and all relevant security agencies on the threats that have led to some teaching staff  vacating  their homes for fear of being attacked.

“ We cannot dare set  foot in the university because  students are sending threats to members of  teaching staff and nobody is ready to lose his or her life. Some of our members have even left their residences,” added Mulwa,” he added.

The unionist said they are only ready to go back to work if serious action is taken against  students suspected to  behind the threats  to ensure their security is safeguarded. 

“The university currently looks like a military camp and students are swearing to use all weapons to  finish us because we supported  the VC’s  ouster.  Unless police officers are deployed around our lecture rooms,  we are not ready to  go back and teach students who are charged against the lecturers,” added Mugambi.

Earlier the lecturers  had claimed that they were not ready to work with the VC even after Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu reinstated the don on Tuesday  after he had been sent packingbecause of alleged poor performance.

They further added that for them to participate in this weekend’s  graduation ceremony preparations, their security needs to be prioritised by the institution.

A spot check by the People Daily  revealed  that most of the staff workers had not reported back a day after the institution was reopened. The staff officials accused the VC of misuse of  the institution’s  funds claiming that  in 2019,  Prof Odhiambo had  allocated himself Sh3.4 millions for his travel allowances and night outs.

“He joined this institution in August 2018 and developed  a high  appetite for  traveling  and within  one year he pocketed Sh3.4 million as travel allowances alone,” he said. At the same time the union officials  claimed that the  VC slashed their medical cover and instead  allocated a paltry  Sh20,000 per family per year,  a move they said is insulting and inconsiderate.

“How does he feel to allocate a medical allowance of only Sh20,000 per family per year when he found us with a good medical cover?  That is an insult,” added Mugambi.

The dons are also  accusing the VC  of closing the Meru town campus that has been  generating a lot of income to the main campus. After the closure of Meru campus,  he allegedly opened a dormant  public relations  liaison office in Nairobi which they claimed consumes Sh8 million annually.

The team of lecturers also blamed Prof Odhiambo of  irregular hiring of staff which has allegedly bloated the workforce  which consumes a  huge amount of money without offering services to the institution.

“In the last five months,  he hired three senior officers who included a chief medical officer and a legal officer who were hired without going through the due process that involves  advertisement and  interviews ,” he added.