EACC begins looking into the Sh2.6n scam at JOOUST

 EACC begins looking into the Sh2.6n scam at JOOUST

Kenya's Kisumu, November 26 According to EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has opened an investigation into a possible fraud 

that resulted in Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) losing over Ksh. 2.6 billion.

Ngumbi claims that senior university administrators conspired with consultants and contractors to embezzle money from the university through six capital projects that were paid for in advance but never finished.

In addition to the multibillion shilling scam, Ngumbi told the media in Aboke village, Ugenya constituency, where top EACC officials had gone to offer condolences to their chairman, 

Bishop Dr. David Oginde, whose mother was being buried, that they were also investigating six JOOUST officials for allegedly accepting bribes and permitting more than 200 unfit students to graduate.

"During the last graduation ceremony held in October this year, the six officials were bribed to allow over 200 unqualified students to be placed 

on the graduation list instead of sitting for supplementary examinations," Ngumbi alleged.

Regarding the Sh2.6 billion loss, Ngumbi stated that EACC had previously visited the former JOOUST vice chancellor's residences in Nairobi, Kisumu, 

and Homabay, where they gathered the project's original documentation.

He said that the primary suspect, the former vice chancellor, appeared to have conspired with the institution's senior management 

and the contractors, and that the VC took all of the original papers with him when he departed.

The university could not adequately defend itself because of a lack of documentation, the official added, adding that "that could be the reason 

why the university was taken to court by one of the contractors who demanded an additional Sh179 million."

Ngumbi said, "Fortunately, we were able to retrieve the documents which we are using to finalise investigations." 

The contractor had frozen the university accounts after obtaining an injunction from a Siaya court.

He stated that EACC will dispute the award in the high court due to the fresh evidence.

According to the EACC spokeswoman, they are looking into 17 other universities, including Moi and Nairobi Universities, in addition to JOOUST.

He claimed that issues with leadership and administration appear to be the root cause of the majority of the issues plaguing institutions.

"University councils and top management appear to be contributing to the issues," he stated.

He urged the ministry of education to improve the systems in place for overseeing standards and quality at institutions of higher learning.

"You don't comprehend how such incidents may occur in an institution with a vice chancellor and a council. It is our duty to make sure that the proper action has been taken," he stated.

EACC chairman Dr. Oginde bemoaned the decline of integrity in the nation during his remarks during the burial ceremony.

The chairman declared, "Integrity has become very scarce in our country," 

adding that the majority of men and women in positions of authority abuse their power to seize what is rightfully the people's.