The Commission on Administrative Justice (Ombudsman) has warned university lecturers against withholding student examination results over delayed fees payment.
Speaking to our reporter in Maseno University during a training on Thursday, the commission chair, Otiende Amollo said it is the responsibility of universities to promptly release the results, saying woes with their lecturers should not be used against students.
He said that although a significant number of students fail to graduate every year because of similar reasons, not many lodge complaints with his office.
“Only one student approached to complain that his sponsor was withdrawing because his transcripts were delayed. The cases may be many but those affected have not approached us,” said Amollo.
He added that such delay amounted to maladministration on the part of the university and that the commission will now investigate such cases for redress.
Amollo added that his commission has learnt that it is mostly part-time lecturers who withhold exam results until the university pays their salaries — jeopardising the chances of the students to complete schooling.
“We have established that this predicament befalls several students across the country and we urge those affected to lodge formal complaints,” said Amollo.
The chair said that the implication of untraceable and delayed results frustrated the scholars who are forced to incur additional costs in repeating up to a whole academic year.
He said that in instances where such cases will be found to be rampant, a system audit will be done and those implicated recommended for requisite disciplinary or legal consequences.
The chairman asked the Maseno University staff oppressed by the administration to file complaints, after a number of them raised concern that the university had failed to honour their agreed financial terms.