Background
Members of Parliament took Prof. Isaac Kosgey, the Vice-Chancellor of Moi University, to task on Wednesday over the irregular leasing of half of the institution’s land to a private investor. The controversy surrounds the unexplained transfer of 1,500 acres of the 3,000 university-owned acres in Eldoret to a developer, who has in turn cleared the land, but not paid even a cent to the institution.
Public Investment Committee Inquiry
Prof. Kosgey was appearing before the Public Investment Committee on Governance and Education, chaired by Bumula MP Jack Wamboka. The VC failed to justify how the land was leased despite an agreement to compensate the university with millions of shillings in revenue.
Financial Details of the Lease
It provides that the institution would earn Sh16,500 annually per acre, totalling Sh24.7 million per year, and in total to over Sh120 million for the five and a half years of the leasing period. The university, however, has no payment to that effect so far.
Presidential Directive and Council Approval
Kosgey claimed the directive to lease the under utilized land came from none other than the Office of the President, who he alleges to have been advised by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei to that effect. A directive that was honoured when the university’s council met and approved the lease.
MPs’ Concerns and Reactions
They expressed great doubt in the VC’s explanation, with some pointing out several ambiguities in the lease agreement and doubt over the nature of the process. Bumula MP Jack Wamboka and Central Imenti MP Moses Kirima particularly demanded to know the identities of entire directors of the company and particulars of the leasing process.
The MPs, who charged that there were irregularities in the deal, also wanted the committee to establish and report on the overall transparency and legality of the transaction. Mr Kirima accused the VC of misleading the committee, claiming that the tender process was yet to be done when the leasing deal was executed. Kilome MP Nzambia Kithua walked out in anger over the explanation of the VC, while Narok Woman Representative called for public service head, saying she wanted to know from Mr Koskei who was acting as Head of Public Service and secretary to the Cabinet.
Committee’s Next Steps
The committee directed the VC to submit all the relevant lease documents and details regarding the number of bids received. Further, information regarding the company’s directors must be forwarded at the time of the next meeting to ensure transparency and accountability.