Matiang’i denies causing loss of Sh600m to two public varsities

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i yesterday refuted claims that he caused a Sh600 million loss to two universities by directing the closure of two of their satellite campuses.

The two satellite universities were located in Kigali Rwanda as a subsidiary of Kenyatta University and the other one was located in Arusha Tanzania as a subsidiary of Jomo Kenyatta University (JKUAT).

Appearing virtually from Washington DC, before the National Assembly Committee on Governance and Education chaired by Bumula MP Wamboka Wanami, the former CS said that the decision to close the two campuses was made by the government after the host countries made it impossible for the university to operate.

Personal decision

Said Matiang’i: “It was a government decision and not a personal decision, the campuses were not closed on a motion of the government or the universities management. They were closed by authority and regulators in Rwanda and Tanzania.

He added: “There is evidence that the government even tried to intervene and engage the authorities in Rwanda but the authorities there were difficult. They (host governments) even amended the law to make it difficult for our campuses to operate.”

Satellite campuses

Defending his actions, Matiangi threw the ball back to his predecessor Jacob Kaimenyi who he claimed was in the office when the process of setting up satellite campuses was initiated.

“By the time I was moved to the Ministry of education, the work of establishing campuses was underway so it is not accurate to say that I authorized them,” Matiangi said. But immediately he was done, MPs who sit in the committee told off Matiangi, saying his explanations are not convincing as already a local university had already set up a university in Rwanda.

The MPs accused the former powerful minister of approving setting up a campus in a foreign land before carrying out due diligence.

Former KU Vice Chancellor Olive Mugenda was put to task to explain why she set up the Kigali campus without following due process. Auditor General Nancy Gathungu had raised concerns over the viability of the campus.

The university spent Sh 518 million to set up the Kigali campus which according to the auditor said was not value for money.