Politicians should desist from politicising issues in the institutions of higher learning for the purpose of promoting quality education, the Kisii University vice-chancellor has said.
Speaking on Monday at the institution during an annual management meeting, Prof John Akama said many institutions were struggling to compete globally due to the vice of negative politics directed at the managers.
He urged politicians to be solution givers rather than being impediments to delivery of quality education.
“As managers, I must admit that we are exposed to unnecessary politics. Politicians should be solution givers rather than pressing us on issues that hampered delivery of quality education. Education should never be politicised,” he said.
Akama said some politicians were secretly pushing for employment of their relatives to the institutions, making it difficult for managers to handle the situation.
“It’s shocking that we don’t have peace in those big offices. They keep on coming pushing for employment of their relatives. If you deny them the opportunity, them basically politics takes centre stage,” he said.
According to the don, if the vice persists, then the quality of education will be dealt a big blow.
“We can no longer allow this vice of exposing managers to such political threats. We are here by merit and we need to stand firm and deal with such situations,” he said.
His sentiments come amidst closure of the University of Eldoret after disagreements between management and area political leaders.