Row over Sh13m varsities’ server for processing data

A row has erupted at the universities’ placement board over the procurement of a Sh13 million server for processing critical data under its mandate.

Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (Kuccps) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr John Muraguri has now sued the board over what he terms as witch-hunt and endless attempts to push him out of the board, even though he is qualified to serve for another term.

According to Muraguri’s advocate Mwaniki Gachuba, the problem began when the CEO applied for an extension of his tenure in September last year, six months to end of his term.

Gachuba said the friction between the board and the CEO, specifically emanated from procurement of servers in 2018, long before the current board chairman assumed office, which was an open tender and a number of people participated.

“Credibility of Kuccps critical mandate is at stake here. The chairman is abusing his powers driven by malice.

It has emerged that people are not able to alter placements to universities as they would have wanted and someone is trying to interfere with the reforms made so far in the Kuccps,” said Gachuba. 

He further states: “What we have now is a fair system that places students to courses that they selected without bias and that does not sit well with some quarters.”

The board, which has reportedly been divided down in the middle wants to take disciplinary action against the CEO and some members of staff.

CEO, four staff members who sat in the evaluation, and two in the tender committee were yesterday summoned to the board to explain the contract process, which the board terms as flawed.

But Muraguri has insisted that there is no basis for any disciplinary action against him.

The board accuses Muraguri of knowingly awarding illegal contract to Konvergenz company, which they claimed failed to qualify and comply with tender specifications.

But Muraguri dismissed the accusations saying due process was followed in awarding the contract.