By John Majau
Opposition leader Raila Odinga has challenged the National Government to ensure that it intensifies the war against the many fake degrees in the country and to also punish mercilessly holders of forged academic papers.
Odinga said the best and only way of producing competent and qualified professionals in Kenya is by eliminating half-baked degree graduates by waging a vicious war against fake degrees, noting that the Government should launch a merciless crackdown on holders of forged academic papers.
The ODM leader said in order for any country to develop it must give priority to research, failure to which it will always lag behind while other nations prosper at an enviable rate.
Consequently, he called on the Government to increase funding to universities specifically in the research sector saying academic research is an indispensable tool for the development of the country.
Speaking during the 18th graduation ceremony at the Kenya Methodist University (KeMU) in Meru, Odinga said there was need to jealously guard the value of education in the country.
More than 2,000 graduands were conferred with degrees and diplomas as KeMU became the first private university to graduate medical doctors.
The Nasa leader also urged graduates to embrace innovation to fuel the country’s Vision 2030.
His sentiments came after KeMU Board of Trustees Chairman Silas Muriuki said they would call in the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate those involved in past mismanagement of university resources.
“We laud the efforts of the Government in the war on corruption and at KeMU, we shall be beneficiaries of the fight. We are calling in EACC to help apprehend those who mismanaged our resources. EACC can also help deal with corruption in private institutions,” said Muriuki.
He attributed KeMU’s financial difficulties to waste of resources in the past.
The University Council Chairman, Dr. Charles Mbui said the management had put in place a raft of measures to keep the university afloat.
“We have done staff rationalisation, cost cutting through efficient systems, closure of non-performing campuses, efficient revenue collection systems and sale of non-core assets to revive the university. We are also in the process of ISO certification and aligned our programmes to be market driven,” noted Dr Mbui .
KeMU Chancellor Joseph Ntombura said he was working with a team of professionals to turn around the university.
Prof Maurice Okoth, the VC, said KeMU was involved in various research initiatives aimed at promoting food security in line with the Big Four Agenda.
He said the graduation of 58 doctors was a key milestone for the university and the country’s health sector.
