Moi varsity protests a recipe for ethnic flare ups NCIC

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) chairman, Francis ole Kaparo, has warned that protests by a section of Rift Valley leaders against the appointment of Prof Laban Ayiro as Moi University’s acting Vice Chancellor may trigger ethnic clashes in the region.

Speaking during the official opening of a conference organized by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) in Murang’a on Wednesday, September 28, Kaparo said that ethnic flare ups are triggered by slightest indication of favouritism of one community or the other.

He registered his displeasure with the leaders saying their continued calls for tribal inclusions in the running of a public university are threatening the commission’s efforts to achieve national cohesion.

“Public universities have in the past been used by irresponsible leaders, who want to gain political mileage, to push for their selfish interests,” he noted.

This comes days after Uasin Gishu Governor, Jackson Mandago, his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart, Alex Tolgos, and a host of other leaders from the region recorded statements with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

A day after recording a statement at DCI headquarters located along Kiambu Road in Nairobi, Governor Mandago made a defiant return to Eldoret saying that the appointment of the Moi University VC must follow merit.

He argued that Prof Isaac Koskei topped the interviews to replace Prof Richard Mibey who retired over a week ago upon the expiration of his ten-year tenure at the helm of the institution of higher learning.

Governors Mandago, Tolgos and MPs Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) and Oscar Sudi (Kapseret) have accused Education Cabinet Secretary, Dr Fred Matiang’i, of favouritism in his appointment of the Vice Chancellor.