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Students wedge into power struggle at UoN council


University of Nairobi students have asked the institution’s council to end power struggles between two top managers.

Officials of the Students Organisation of University of Nairobi (Sonu) on Tuesday said the wrangles between the two is affecting operations at the institution.

Led by Sonu Parliament Clerk Ochieng’ Ochieng’, the officials told the university’s council to take immediate action failure to which, they “will take matters in their hands.”

A battle for control of the university’s billion-shilling budget and personnel management has been simmering between Vice Chancellor Peter Mbithi and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance, Bernard Njoroge.

The struggle between the two has since been escalated to the university’s council.

Recently, Prof Mbithi moved to clip Prof Njoroge’s powers by issuing new guidelines where all expenditure above Sh100,000 can only be approved by the Vice Chancellor.

The Vice Chancellor also moved the docket of performance contracting to his office, taking away powers he enjoyed when he himself served as the DVC Academic before elevation to the new position.

According to an exchange of letters, Prof Njoroge had attempted to contain expenditures in the university.

Prof Njoroge, in a letter to the university’s chairman of the Council Idle Farah, complained that Prof Mbithi is watering down his efforts to tighten financial controls.