Mt.Kenya University don has criticised a section of political leaders and institution managers over their tribal influence in higher learning institutions.
Dr. Joseph Owiti, a political science lecturer at Mt. Kenya University in Nakuru while talking to this writer in an interview in Nakuru town ton Friday said that political leaders should not try to control affairs of higher learning institutions to uphold standards.
He observed that higher learning institutions are never been established or managed on a devolved system but on national and operate on set standards of higher learning institutions that are internationally recognised.
“I find it a bitter pill to swallow when I see our politicians trying to devolve higher learning institutions to village level. A university can be established anywhere in the country either in urban or rural setting, but that does not mean it belongs to the people of that village or geographical location,’’ said Dr. Owiti citing example of the current crisis at the University of Eldoret where Senator Melly was involved.
According to the don, politicians should enlighten their followers on the grassroots that higher learning institutions are global institutions that can higher services of any qualified person across the world.
He alleged that politicians were trying to politicise and practice tribalism in higher learning institutions so that they can have a hidden hand in the running of the institutions for selfish interests.
He also lashed at university managers who create fiefdoms in higher learning institutions arguing that such people were incompetent to manage higher learning institutions that are supposed to be centres of academic excellence and research.