By John Majau
The saga surrounding the Kenya Methodist University and the Methodist Church took a new twist when a section of bishops and members blamed poor leadership and mismanagement for the problems bedeviling the university and the entire church.
The group led by Rev Kobia Ataya, Rev Misheck Kanake, Rev Jeremiah Anondo, and Rev Jacob Gituma have called on the Methodist Church Presiding Bishop Joseph Ntombura, who is also the KeMU chancellor to vacate office in order to save both the church and the university from inevitable collapse.
They regretted that the once prestigious and pioneer Meru University is now in the red and on verge of collapse, noting that the college has an asset base of Sh3 billion and a debt of a similar amount.
The clergy now wants the Department of Criminal Investigations to intervene by urgently investigating any corrupt deals at KeMU headquarters and ensuring that the culprits are brought to book.
They said the best way to reclaim the university’s lost glory is by removing the Presiding Bishop from office in a bid to pave way for credible and accountable leadership.
Speaking at Gatimene Hotel in Meru town, the clergy vowed to ensure that none of the university or church property is sold to pay off the debt.
They said that the best way of reviving the institution is change in leadership and promised to solicit for funds to settle the outstanding debts and buy more assets.
Recently auctioneers stormed the university and carted away property in order to recover debts owed to former employees of the institution, who were sacked by the bishop.
The former bishops and members said under Bishop Ntombura’s watch, several ministers have been defrocked and others suspended besides interfering with democratic systems used to run the church.
“Many pastors have been dismissed unprocedurally. Those who do not toe the line are deployed in far flung areas with very little remuneration. We are here to speak for them,” Rev Kanake said.
Rev Anondo said under the leadership of Bishop Ntombura, KeMU University has had four vice chancellors within the last four years.
Other concerns include amending the Methodist standing orders that is said to be unconstitutional and fixing the irregular change of Board of Trustees and University Council members.
They now want the Commission for University Education report made public to establish the position of KeMU.
“We understand that the commission advised that the Bishop be removed as the chancellor due to conflict of interest but this is yet to be honoured. The report should be publicized,” said Rev Anondo.
A section of professionals including former employees of the university have blamed KeMU’s troubles on interference by the bishop.
“We realized that some items were bought at exaggerated prices, at more than double the current rates. The board members used to draw allowances of Sh76,000 at a sitting, which was very exorbitant,” Mr Muriuki revealed.
He said the KeMU management had come up with austerity measures which include cutting costs. The former MP said board and council members were forgoing allowances.
The Board fo Trustees chairman has also written to the Commission for University Education (CUE) requesting for more time to implement recommendations on restructuring whose deadline lapses this month.
In its inspection report, CUE had given KeMU one year to restructure or face closure.
Earlier, KeMU VC Prof Maurice Okoth also assured that the institution was on a recovery path.
He said while the regulator cited financial issues, the varsity was effectively performing its mandate in academics, research and community service.
The assurances come even as former Vice Chancellor Prof Henry Kiriamiti battles the institution in court for alleged unprocedural dismissal last year. Prof Kiriamiti has filed a contempt suit after he was blocked from the institution despite having a court order.
By July last year, the university owed banks, KRA, staff and suppliers up to Sh3 billion leading to a dispute over how the debts would be settled.
Meanwhile the management of the university has assured Kenyans that the institution is financially stable and will not be auctioned to recover outstanding debts contrary to the rumors being circulated around by some people.
Methodist Church Presiding Bishop Joseph Ntombura and the KEMU Board of Trustee Chairman Silas Muriuki both dismissed allegation that the university will be auctioned to recover an outstanding debts of Sh42 million.
Speaking at Isiolo Methodist Church during the burial of Bishop Julius Golicha, the duo said former employees who were retrenched went to court to claim an outstanding bill of Sh42million and auctioned two buses before the institution managed to pay them.
”Nothing is happening in the Methodist Church. The church is never run through court or the media. It has its own systems and those are enough. You can’t please everybody all the time,” said the Presiding Bishop.
