By John Mugendi
Members of Chuka University’s academic staff have come out to defend their Vice-Chancellor, Erastus Njoka over the fake academic documents allegations.
Addressing the press at the university’s graduation square on Wednesday, the lecturers accused Prof Njoka’s political opponents of facilitating the propaganda aimed at ruining his reputation and that of the university.
In a statement read by Prof Joseph Kavulya, the lecturers said from the evidence available at the university records and the other respective accreditation bodies, Prof Njoka acquired the minimum university entry points in 1981 when he sat KACE examination at Nkubu Boys’ High School.
He said the records are very clear that Prof Njoka obtained two Principles passes and one subsidiary and could be admitted to any local or international university.
According to him, the Commission for University Education which recognizes universities and their certifications vindicated Prof Njoka in a letter dated August 20, 2021.
“It is notable that the information that was unfortunately splashed out on the electronic and print media was erroneous and misleading,” said Prof Kavulya.
He said in the year 1984, the Kenyan government advertised for scholarships tenable in the former Soviet Union (Russia) and Prof Njoka applied and was considered and was able to join the prestigious Patrice Lumumba People’s Friendship University which is currently known as People’s Friendship University of Russia.
He said in 1993, Prof Njoka returned to Kenya as a PhD holder and landed his first job at Egerton University as a lecturer in the Animal Science department and rose through academic ranks to a full professor.
Prof Kavulya noted that the recruitment to the several ranks involved rigorous vetting by different academic and management panels and concerns on the authenticity of his academic documents has never been raised.
He said later the Prof became the founding director of Egerton University Eastern Campus, the principal and later the VC after the university became full-pledged.
He praised Prof Njoka’s transformative style of leadership that enabled him to develop Chuka Village Polytechnic to a reputable and internationally recognized university.
“Through the able leadership of Prof Njoka, Chuka University has the ultra-modern infrastructure and phenomenal growth in the number of students to the current 18,000,” he said.
The staff maintained that they have total confidence in the academic qualifications, integrity and mentorship prowess of their VC and would like to caution the people spreading malicious information that tarnishes the image of the scholar and that of the university to desist.
The university students led by their President, Oscar Kipchumba have also defended the VC and accused unnamed politicians of being the source of the allegations.
“We know this matter is politically instigated and we would like to ask politicians who fear facing the VC in the 2022 gubernatorial race to embrace an issue-based politics and not witch-hunt,” said Mr Kipchumba.
Prof Njoka’s Nkubu High School principal, Mr Nyaga Maiti has also come out to defend the don against the fake paper’s allegations which he termed as propaganda.
The retired chief principal confirmed that the VC scored two principal passes and two subsidiaries in Kenya KACE) in 1981 and he was among students who qualified to join the university.
“Prof Njoka was my student at Nkubu High School and I remember very well he was taking Biology, Chemistry, Geography and General Paper and he passed very well and proceed to university in Russia,” said Mr Maiti.
The Kenya National Qualifications Authority Chairman Dr Kilemi Mwiria has also stated that Prof Njoka qualified to join any university in the country and outside and acknowledged all his academic certificates.
“I feel politics is behind this propaganda and it’s very unfortunate,” said Dr Mwiria.
Mr Wilfred Gitaari, Prof Njoka’s Form Six classmate of admission number 1418 has also come out to confirm that indeed, the VC attained grade to join university.
He said Prof Njoka was one of the best students in their class and that they shared the same dormitory.
“I am aware of these facts because I housed Prof Njoka in my room at the University of Nairobi where I was taking mechanical engineering for about three weeks as he pursuing his scholarship,” said Mr Gitaari.
Tharaka Nithi Senator Prof Kithure Kindiki and a politician Dr Mutegi Kabisani have also defended Prof Njoka’s academic qualifications.
The two have blamed the fake academic papers allegations to politicians aimed at ruining VC’s reputation for political reasons.
