The public investment committee on governance and Education members have launched a probe into questionable payments made to former Karatina University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Muchai Muchiri, including a Ksh 12.49 million gratuity he authorized for himself just two days before the university’s official clearance process.
According to the Auditor General’s report, gratuity payments are only to be processed after the end of a contract and upon full clearance from the institution. However, the committee heard that Prof. Muchiri paid himself the hefty sum before undergoing the mandatory clearance process.
“It is clear that the former VC cleared himself before his contract ended, which is against the law,” Wamboka stated. “He has never officially cleared from the institution, making the payment illegal.”
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The committee summoned both Prof. Muchiri and the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Linus Muthuri, to explain the irregularities.
Prof. Muchiri admitted to authorizing the payment as Prof. Muthuri confirmed that his predecessor had not completed the clearance process despite exiting office in 2023 and receiving all dues.
In addition to the gratuity, the committee also questioned Ksh 1.8 million in transport allowances drawn by Prof. Muchiri during the 2022/2023 financial year, despite having access to a university vehicle. MPs argued that he could not claim transport allowances while also using an institution-provided car.
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Prof. Muchiri defended the payments, saying he primarily used his personal vehicle due to a shortage of official cars. He claimed only Ksh 270,000 of the flagged amount was for home-to-work trips, and that he had already refunded the sum after an internal probe. Prof. Muthuri added that the arrangement was inherited from Moi University and was part of the former VC’s contract.
However, MPs rejected the explanation, insisting that the university had no authority to override the Auditor General’s findings. “You cannot come before us with your own figure of Ksh 270,000,” Wamboka said. “The flagged amount is Ksh 1.8 million, and we want a full explanation.”
The committee directed the university to recover the entire Ksh 1.8 million within six months and warned of serious consequences for non-compliance. “When a contract of an institution is inconsistent with the laws of the country, it becomes repugnant,” Wamboka concluded. “The university must comply with the law and recover the full amount.”
By Masaki Enock
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