The committee was particularly incensed by the overpayment of allowances to acting senior officers. Documents tabled before the MPs showed that the acting Vice-Chancellor received KSh 700,848 in acting allowance against an approved limit of KSh 247,085, an excess of KSh 453,763. Sixteen employees, including the acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Finance), drew acting allowances for periods exceeding the statutory six-month limit. In total, irregular allowance payments amounted to KSh 17.3 million. Further irregularities emerged in telephone and car allowances.
By The Weekly Vision Reporter
Lawmakers have ordered Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu to conduct an urgent forensic audit of Maasai Mara University after revelations of widespread financial irregularities totalling more than KSh 70 million.
The directive from the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education follows damning evidence of cash withdrawals without supporting documents, massive overpayment of allowances, irregular procurement of legal services and questionable construction contracts at the Narok-based institution.
During a heated sitting on Wednesday, the committee chaired by Bumula MP Jack Wamboka accused senior university officials of presiding over systematic looting of public funds.“Cash withdrawals of KSh 50.7 million were made without a single supporting document. This is not an oversight, this is theft,” Mr Wamboka declared.
The committee was particularly incensed by the overpayment of allowances to acting senior officers. Documents tabled before the MPs showed that the acting Vice-Chancellor received KSh 700,848 in acting allowance against an approved limit of KSh 247,085, an excess of KSh 453,763. Sixteen employees, including the acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Finance), drew acting allowances for periods exceeding the statutory six-month limit. In total, irregular allowance payments amounted to KSh 17.3 million. Further irregularities emerged in telephone and car allowances.
Three officers were paid annual telephone allowances of KSh 15,000 each instead of the KSh 9,000 stipulated in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, resulting in an overpayment of KSh 1.2 million. Four Grade 15 officers received monthly car allowances of KSh 115,000 instead of the authorised KSh 16,000.“Madam Vice-Chancellor, these car and airtime allowances were never approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission. You have no defence,” Mr Wamboka told Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Peninah Aloo-Obudho.
The university also spent KSh 12 million on legal services procured through direct procurement, with no fee notes or proof of court attendance provided. Attempts by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration, Finance and Strategy) Prof James Nampushi to justify the payments were sharply rebuffed. “DVC, you are being mischievous. It is clear that you are incompetent and untruthful,” the chairman said.
The committee has given the Auditor-General three months to complete the forensic audit and has summoned the entire University Council to appear before it next month. Established in 2008 and granted full charter status in 2013, Maasai Mara University has previously faced scrutiny over financial management, including an earlier reported heist.
Wednesday’s revelations, however, represent the most serious challenge yet to its governance. Public universities in Kenya have come under increasing parliamentary pressure in recent years over financial mismanagement, with several vice-chancellors suspended or surcharged following similar audits. The outcome of the forthcoming forensic audit is expected to determine whether criminal referrals will be made to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
