Author: Hezron Rooy

Top Officials at Moi University Under Investigation for Corruption. Moi University’s top management has been summoned by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for questioning over allegations of misappropriating Sh2.2 billion through fraudulent infrastructural projects. Key officials to be interrogated include Vice-Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kosgey, Chief Accountant Egla Samoei, Head of Procurement Wilson Bett, and Head of Development Unit Moses Kipkulei. They are required to appear at the EACC Eldoret office on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. The investigation follows reports of widespread corruption and theft of public funds at the institution. The summons coincide with a two-month-long strike by workers…

Youth Urged to Tap into Green Skills Sector for Employment Opportunities. The youth have been encouraged to explore opportunities in the green skills sector and other areas related to climate change, which are emerging as significant global employers. Zetech University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Njenga Munene, emphasized that venturing into these sectors could help mitigate the country’s high unemployment rates. Speaking to students at the University’s Mangu Campus during a career growth seminar, he highlighted specific areas such as solar energy, forestry, environmental conservation, and the circular economy. He noted that these fields are receiving increased investment from employers and present…

Proposed Universities Bill to End PSC Powers of Appointing Vice Chancellors. The Universities (Amendment) Bill (No. 16) of 2024, sponsored by Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, proposes removing the Public Service Commission (PSC) from the process of appointing public university chancellors. Currently, the process requires candidates to be shortlisted and ranked by the PSC before submission to the President. Baya argued this complicated process has left 26 public universities without chancellors. The proposed amendment allows the university Senate to directly forward three suitable candidates to the President for selection within 90 days. The committee, led by Tinderet MP Julius Melly,…

Students Suspended After Challenging Tuition Fees and Unsanitary Practices. The Commission of Administrative Justice (Ombudsman) was compelled to step in after 15 Form Two students faced suspension for protesting unsanitary conditions and inadequate services at their school. Parents reported that the students had raised grievances about being made to bathe with dirty stormwater and unhygienic food preparations. Additionally, they highlighted the lack of extra tuition services, despite parents having paid Ksh1,500 per term since Form One. On July 17, 2024, parents were called to the school to collect their suspended children, but no suspension letters were issued, nor were return…

Moi University Ordered to Pay Ksh53 Million to KMPDU Doctors. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) scored a significant win in their legal battle against Moi University regarding call allowances for five doctors. The dispute arose when the University excluded these doctors from enhanced call allowances, contravening the Return-to-Work Formula (RTWF) previously adopted in court. On November 18, the Milimani Labour Relations Court issued a garnishee order to recover Ksh53 million owed to the affected doctors. A garnishee order directs a third party to redirect funds owed to a debtor to satisfy a debt owed to a…

MPs Seeks to Bar Universities from Offering Diploma Courses. The National Assembly Committee on Education and Research has endorsed a proposal under the Universities (Amendment) (No. 5) Bill, 2023, aimed at streamlining the education system. This move would limit universities to offering degree and postgraduate programs, with diploma and basic certificate courses reserved for technical and vocational colleges. The Bill, sponsored by Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru, seeks to eliminate overlapping roles between universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. The Committee stated that such overlap has led to inconsistencies in course quality, content, and duration. The…

MPs Wants Private Universities Excluded From the KUCCPS Board. Bumula MP Jack Wamboka has sponsored the Universities (Amendment) Bill (No. 38) of 2023, which seeks to eliminate private universities’ representation on the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) board. Currently, two vice-chancellors from private universities sit on the board. However, the committee opposed this proposal, arguing that KUCCPS serves as a central database for advising the government on university placements, necessitating input from both public and private institutions. The Bill also recommends restricting government-sponsored student placements exclusively to public universities. The Bill was motivated by growing concerns over…

Ministry of Education Announces 217 Scholarships for Kenyans to Study in China and Hungary. The Ministry of Education has unveiled opportunities for Kenyans to pursue higher education abroad, offering a total of 217 scholarships for the 2025/2026 academic year. These scholarships, provided by the governments of China and Hungary, target undergraduate, Masters, One-Tier Masters (OTM), and PhD levels of study. The Ministry, through a notice published in MyGov on Tuesday, November 19, disclosed that the Chinese Government is offering 17 scholarships to Kenyan students. These scholarships are available for undergraduate, Masters, and PhD programs in China. Applicants are advised to…

28 Career Opportunities Available in State Agencies. Kenyan agencies have announced multiple job vacancies in November 2024, inviting applications from qualified professionals. Below is a summary of the advertised positions, application details, and deadlines. 1. Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) KeNIA has advertised 9 job openings for various roles: Application Process:Applicants should visit the KeNIA careers website here to review job descriptions and application procedures. Applications close on December 10, 2024, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Join Teachers Updates on Facebook 2. Kiambu National Polytechnic (KINAP) KINAP is recruiting for 12 positions as follows: Application Process:Candidates must deliver…

Public University Lecturers Give Education CS 24-Hour Ultimatum as Strike Enters 4th week. Learning in public universities was paralyzed on Monday as the lecturers’ strike entered its fourth consecutive week across the country. The industrial action persists despite assurances from the Treasury and Education Cabinet Secretaries that funds for salary increases and recruitment of additional academic staff have been allocated. At the University of Nairobi, students who have gone a month without lectures joined demonstrations organized by their tutors. The procession began at the UON Graduation Square on Monday morning, heading to Nairobi’s CBD and making a stop at Parliament…