A section of the University of Eldoret teaching and non-teaching staff has issued a 7-day ultimatum to outgoing Vice Chancellor Prof. Teresa Akenga to vacate office.
The staff who on Thursday, March 2, 2023, congregated at the university’s main gate in Chepkoilel, accused Prof Akenga of refusing to leave office despite her term coming to an end.
Addressing a media briefing, they claimed despite an acting VC having been appointed, he has not been able to take over due to the reluctance of his predecessor to leave office.
“We’re informed that an acting VC has been appointed but we regret that the former VC is still holding onto the office and the acting one has not taken over the executive mandate of the appointment,” said Dr Nyaberi Mogaka, the joint chairman of Kenya Univerity Staff Union (KUSU) and University Academic Staff Union (UASU) UoE chapter.
The staff say Prof Akenga’s term is over and that she should leave the stage without smearing her name.
They now want the University Council and the Chancellor to ensure a smooth transition as soon as possible.
“We’re giving a 7-day ultimatum to the Council chairman to ensure the acting VC takes over and we get back to business,” noted Dr Mogaka.
Seamless transition
Similar sentiments were shared by the university’s KUSU Secretary Robinson Kibet.
He said Prof Akenga should ensure there is a seamless transition.
Kibet said upon the expiry of the 7-day ultimatum, they have several options that they will take to push through the installation of an acting VC.
“If the 7-day ultimatum is gone, we have other options, and we will not mince our words,” he said.
Prof. Akenga has served as the University of Eldoret VC for the last about 10 years.
She was appointed to the position in June 2013. With her term coming to an end, she is expected to proceed on terminal leave as the Ministry of Education starts the process of recruiting her replacement.
The 10-year period that Prof Akenga served as VC witnessed a fair share of controversies, the major one being a 2015 attempt by the then Uasin Gishu Senator Phillip Melly to lead at least 10 MCAs and locals in ejecting her from office.
They accused her of nepotism and skewed employment.
However, Prof. Akenga survived the opposition and went further to serve for two terms of five years.
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