Masinde Muliro University Vice Chancellor Prof Fredrick Otieno at a past event. [Photo/mmust.ac.ke]
Masinde Muliro University VC Fredrick Otieno has rubbished claims that he has been forced to take compulsory leave to give room for investigations over corruption allegations.
Otieno, who is being probed by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for alleged misappropriation of funds and abuse of office, said the university council has not forced him to 'quit', insisting he was still in charge of the institution.
"I am on normal annual leave," the Vice Chancellor said during an interview with Sunday Standard.
EACC has been piling pressure on the university council to suspend Otieno, claiming he was interfering with the investigations.
The anti-graft agency accuses the VC of intimidating the staff through demotions, transfers, dismissals and interdictions.
Otieno, however, has insisted on his innocence, accusing the agency of targeting him wrongfully.
"Over the past 12 months or so, I have been falsely accused for crimes I have never and can never do. This is pure witch-hunt," he said.
The VC accused 'cartels of corruption’ at the varsity of waging a war against him.
"I wish to reiterate that I am totally innocent. I am not corruptible. Cartels that I broke up when I took over in December 2013 are fighting back," Otieno said.