Meru University VC reinstated, calm resumes

It is reprieve for suspended Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) Vice Chancellor Prof Romanus Odhiambo after the government reinstated him yesterday.

And in the same breath, the government announced that the University Council that had sent the VC packing has only two days in office as its term lapses tomorrow.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu said the decision by council to send Odhiambo on terminal leave and appoint an acting VC was ill-timed and unlawful. 

“The decision is ill-timed because it was made a few days to the scheduled graduation ceremony of Match 11 with obvious consequence that it would undermine the preparations for the imminent event and destroy hopes of graduands to transit into the world of work immediately,” he said in a statement.

Hours after Machogu’s directive, the council chair Prof Bosire Monari Mwebi issued a statement affirming that the decision to send Odhiambo on terminal leave had been rescinded. “The council will facilitate Odhiambo’s immediate resumption of office before close of business on March 7, 2023. It will work with the management to facilitate the reopening of the institution by Wednesday (yesterday) so that operations can return to normal,” said Mwebi. 

As news of the reinstatement of Odhiambo spread, students broke into dance and celebrations as the academic staff claimed their lives were in danger.

Led by students’ organisation president Kariuki Wachira and his predecessor Hunnington Oguk, the students expressed joy following the CS’s directive. They had vowed to remain unruly until the VC was reinstated. 

However, the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) secretary general Mulwa Munyau said the academic staff will not set foot in the institution even after re-opening, claiming their lives are in danger. “We cannot dare set foot in the university. The students are sending threats to teaching staff and nobody is ready to lose life.”

He added that they are not ready to abide by the CS’s decision, claiming the embattled VC has allegedly been inciting students against them. “Let him and the student now run the institution. We are not ready to teach. I cannot teach a student who is threatening my life. No! Never!” 

He said unless the reinstatement order is revoked, they won’t participate in preparation for the graduation slated for Saturday.

Unlawful decision

Machogu had termed the decision to send Odhiambo on terminal leave and appointing of an acting VC unlawful because it was reached without consultation with the CS as required by Section 35(1)(a) of the Universities Act, 2012.

He regretted that the council fell short of its legal duty of fidelity to the applicable law. “The Ministry of Education, therefore, directs the university council to rescind its decision to send Prof Odhiambo on terminal leave and to appoint an acting VC,” said the CS in the statement.

He had directed the university management to facilitate the reopening of the institution for return of students and resumption of normal operations not later than today.

The CS also said the university’s 10^th graduation ceremony will proceed as planned and that he will attend.

Similarly, the CS said the term of the current council will lapse on March 9 and the ministry will take the necessary steps to constitute a successor council in accordance with the law.

“The council so appointed, shall in line with its legal mandate address the matter of the position of the VC,” said the CS.

The council had declined to renew Odhiambo’s contract due to the poor performance that resulted in student unrest leading to the indefinite closure of the university. 

On Monday, the university Senate directed immediate closure of the institution after students went on the rampage, protesting the removal of Odhiambo.

– Additional reporting by KNA