John Wanjala Muchele on behalf of Bungoma County Residents wrote to the Vice Chancellor – Kibabii University, County Commissioner Bungoma County, CPC – Bungoma South, SCPC – Bungoma South, DCIO – Bungoma South and DCC – Bungoma South declaring their intention to hold a peaceful demonstration against the Kibabii University Council Secretary on Thursday the 21st day of May 2020. The demonstration is by citizens from the whole of Bungoma County that will start from Bungoma town to Kibabii University demanding audience with the Kibabii University Chancellor as per Article 37 of our Constitution.
- A NOTICE that was SERVED today Thursday, May 14, 2020 and DECLINED by the County Police Commander and Sub county Police Commander – Bungoma South
- The OCS nevertheless silently received the notice.
- The Bungoma County Residents leadership nevertheless inform #iKUWEiKUWE Updates that the demonstration will go on with strict adherence to #COVID-19 guidelines
In their notice, The Bungoma County residents cited the following reasons for demonstration:
- We served the chairperson of the University Council a 14 days’ notice on 28th April 2020 to ensure the appointment/confirmation of one prof. Donald Namasaka Siamba as DVC AFD but no communication has been given to us and now the 14 days are expired leaving us with the option of demonstrating.
- The Vice Chancellor Prof. Ipara who is the Secretary of the University Council has failed to advise the university council appropriately for the university to help the community so we shall be demanding for his removal.
- Due to lack of community representation at the top leadership of the university, the university has done if any very little in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) instead most of our children who are students there are always denied exams for lack of fees. If we could have representation on top management, the university could be in position to understand the poor economic status of the community and even introduce some bursary scheme.
- The university has failed to engage the community in terms of accommodation of the students. There is no structured engagement between the university and community on how to accommodate the students that is causing security risks to our students. Other universities engage some community people to put up hostels where the rent payment is between the land lords and the university. This arrangement allows students to stay in a secure environment. The university has failed to do this because the community is not represented on the top management.
- It appears the vice chancellor has failed to steer the university to do research that will impact the community. An example of a university that has impacted the community is Egerton University that through its agriculture department research, there is proper dairy farming in the surrounding community and the crops grown around the university are very appealing. Kibabii University has Agriculture department but even the university farm is an embarrassment to the community. We need to be represented on the top management may be the university will think of doing research to positively impact the community.
- For the 11 months Prof. Siamba has acted, we have seen for the first time the university providing soap and sanitizers to the County Government as a proof that the university has been doing nothing for the community in the past because the community had no representation on top management.
- We do not understand why Prof. Donald Namasaka Siamba is not being confirmed in the position he has acted for almost a year when the precedence at the university has been that after acting all have been confirmed. The Vice Chancellor acted as Principal and was confirmed. When the university started, he acted as VC and was confirmed. Why is he now becoming a stumbling block to the confirmation of Prof. Siamba?
- There is a lot of nepotism and cutting of deals that locks out the community benefiting for having a university in its environs. The community has nothing to do because those in top management have no feelings for the community for theirs is to benefit their clan members and where they come from. That is why they will ensure no representation in top management from the community.
- The university has allowed sewage waste to a river in the community with impunity.
- The Bungoma County Community is very kind to all as compared to other communities and that courtesy is being abused to be foolishness. Remember our own Prof. Laban Ayiro was chased like a dog at Moi University. We need to be respected as a community by also honouring those who have acted and delivered. Prof. Donald Namasaka Siamba has acted for almost a year and delivered so he should be appointed/Confirmed as he qualifies to be in that office of DVC Administration, Finance and Development.
We are requesting you to provide security for us as we exercise our right of demonstration given to us by our Constitution. Read a letter by John Wanjala Muchele
In his response the County Police Commander, Dr. Musyoki wrote; “We cannot allow any demonstration during this period of COVID-19 pandemic.”
