Lawmakers have summoned former Baringo Senator Gideon Moi to shed light on the status of 200 acres of land valued at Sh1.08 billion that he together with other board members are holding in trust for a technical institute based in the Rift Valley.

Gideon and others will also be questioned about the ownership of another 5,000 acres of land that has not been surrendered to the institute and is being held in trust by another entity.

The former senator is the chair of the board of trustees of the Rift Valley National Polytechnic (RVNP), formerly Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology.

Members of the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education, chaired by Bumula MP Wamboka Wanami, said they will not allow land belonging to a public institution to be held in trust by private entities.

Action ‘illegal’

The land was given to RVNP in 1972 by the late President Moi after members of the public bought it. It was then surrendered to the board of trustees to hold it in trust.

Said Wamboka: “The whole issue is illegal. The late Moi, if he wanted to give land to anyone, should have given his own land. All lands belonging to public institutions must belong there. This is why we are summoning Gideon Moi to come here and explain this matter.”

The committee, he said, will also visit RVNP to find out why the land has not been transferred to the school per the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Act of 2014.

He said: “We will have a meeting at the school. We are coming to your institution in two weeks’ times and our intention is to return the land to the public and we will do it whether the institution likes it or not.”

Kakai Bisau (Kiminini) sought to know how RVNP Principle Sammy Chemoiwa, who has worked for the school for 18 years, was reappointed but he is still not aware how many acres it owns.

Title deeds

Lawmakers raised the questions after Chemoiwa said he did not have the title deeds for the land as it is being held in trust by the board.

He said: “Yes, it is true that we do not own the titles of the land. However, my honest opinion is that if all the land were to be given back to the institution, I would prefer it to be managed by someone else because even if I manage it, its sustainability is not possible.”

But immediately after presenting his submissions, committee members accused him of being conflicted. They said they will recommend that a new principal be appointed who can manage both the school and the land, arguing that it was clear Chemoiwa was not interested in running the school’s affairs.

Said Wamboka: “Mr Principal, it is very clear that you are very conflicted. We can read the signs. But we would like to tell you, if you feel you cannot manage the land, then we can get someone else to do this job. Just wait and see.”

The committee made the resolution when it reviewed Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s report on the school for the financial year to June 2020.

Assets register

In the report, Gathungu raised concerns that the fixed-asset register lacked title deeds and vital information.

The report says: “The statement of financial position as at 30 June 2020 reflects non-current assets Sh1,114,271,704 as detailed under Note 20 to the financial statements.

“However, the assets register provided for audit lacked vital information which includes dates of acquisition of assets, year of acquisition, cost of acquisition (or valuation), additions or disposals made during the financial year, serial numbers and title deeds where applicable and location of moveable assets.

“Consequently, the asset register may not be a reliable document for effective control of non-current assets.”