All is not well at The Eldoret National Polytechnic (TENP). According to sources, the principal Josphat Sawe is at loggerheads with a section of the governing council over what is termed, poor management and failure to account for funds.
Chief Principal Josphat SaweThe council is chaired by Prof Simiyu Sitati. Other members of the council are Victoria Chepseba, Diana Lukosi, Dr Wesley Mutai, Dr Paul Murgor, Prof Peter Okwemwa and Gichuru Mutilili. Sawe is the secretary of the council.
Two multi-million projects are said to be dividing the board. A section of the members are questioning the amount used to construct Entebbes and Turkana East campuses. Also raising suspicion is Town campus located in Berur House, Eldoret town.
To complicate matters for the Principal the strikes associated with the institution, Insecurity, tribalism and infighting among the teaching staff is also a headache.
Samson RonoTo micromanage tenders, Sawe has planted Emily Rono and Samson Rono to run the lucrative Procurement department. According to insiders the two hold similar position but with just different names. Rono heads supply chain management department with Rono being the Head of supplies.
Emily RonoSurprisingly the two surnames are coincidentally Rono. The two Ronos are key players in Sawe’s kitchen cabinet. Another dreaded member of the kitchen cabinet is the never smiling security officer Benjamin Silu commonly refered to as ‘Saddam”. Kennedy Mutai, head of Information systems has Sawe’s ears.
That tribalism is rife at the National Polytechnic is well seen as follows, Benjamin Maiyo (Dean of Students), Kennedy Mutai (M/S Manager), Tecla Kemei (Head of Supplies) and Emily Rono (Chain Management head).
That tribalism is rife at the National polytechnic is well seen as follows, Benjamin Maiyo (Dean of Students), Kennedy Mutai (M/S managers) Tecla Kemei (Head of Catering department) Samson Rono (Head of Supplies) and Emily Rono (Chain Management head).
Emmanuel Meres is deputy principal administration with James Mwangi Deputy principal academics. During the last student strike, Mwangi being an outsider was blamed for the chaos.
Applied Sciences Department has Jackson Yator as the head, David Chepkangor heads civil and Building Technology Department, David Kosgei, Head of Electrical and electronics Department, Patrick Koech Deputy Head, Health Sciences Department.
At the Health Sciences department, it is whispered, Koech the deputy head has more powers than his boss Joseph Chavutia who heads the department.
Jane Kiprono is in-charge of Hospitality, Nutrition and Dietetics department, with Wesley Rutto heading Mechanical Engineering Department.
David Allube head Business Department and Solomon Kili, Entrepreneurship Department Head.
Shadrack Yebei is Head of Department Computing and Information Technology Department.
Department Liberal Sciences and Chemical Engineering are also in hands of one community.
Weekly Citizen has information, the strategic Finance department is headed by Richard Sang. Of the 14 members working under Sang, many have roots in Kalenjinland.
Sawe, Sang and two Ronos in procurement are faces calling the shots in tender awards and payments.
A shrewd operator, Sang the Finance officer is said to front companies associated with his relatives and friends to land supply tenders. We could not establish if it is true Sang has secretly employed his sidekick at the Finance department but our source could not rule it out.
Sang controls student Finance, Expenditure accounting, Cash office final account.
“With the all stipulated above, can one say Eldoret National Polytechnic is really national? Our source asked.
One easily concludes, it has no national outlook. Even at one time the polytechnic student union had majority of leaders from one tribe occupying plum positions.
There's no story that cannot be told. We cover the stories that others don't want to be told, we bring you all the news you need. If you have tips, exposes or any story you need to be told bluntly and all queries write to us [email protected] also find us on Telegram
