Waititu’s controversial decision that could see him clash with Uhuru
Mr Waititu's decision might anger Uhuru Kenyatta's administration.
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The directive, if implemented could affect National Government controlled Kenyatta University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, a move that is highly likely to cause a disquiet from State House.
“KU and JKUAT, for example, are not employing our people. If you go there, the staff are not our people,” Mr Waititu said.
He added: We want to make sure that the head of such institutions is recruited through our assembly. We want to ensure that the person who is selected is from Kiambu.”
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Mr Waititu has hinted at making major changes to the running of the two intuitions, which are currently run by non-locals. He cried foul of the loss of jobs at the institutions, a move which is set to anger the Uhuru Kenyatta led administration. The two universities are currently controlled by the national government, owing to the huge revenue and the massive strategical positioning.
The already decided Jubilee governor has vowed to move on with the decision, doubting any possibilities of backing from his decision.
According to Mr Waititu, the schools have been discriminating against students from the region. He said despite performing well, local students get slots in faraway regions, yet the infrastructure in the schools were developed using the county government’s resources.
This is not the first time a governor has pushed for the changes in the management of public universities. Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago locked horns with the management of the Eldoret-based Moi University over the appointment of Prof Laban Ayiro to lead the institution, after then expiry of Prof Richard Mibey’s term.
The move by Mr Mandago created disquiet in the government and the students, who condemned the decision by Mr Mandago to influence the management of the institution.
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Prof Ayiro was appointed by Education CS Fred Matiang'i as acting VC of Moi University on Monday, September 19.
After Mr Mandago stormed the institution demanding for a raft of changes at the National Government led institution, over 100 Members of the Uasin Gishu County Assembly backed the governor’s bid, in the broader view of mopping up more revenue for the county .
Uasin Gishu's Jackson Mandago and Alex Tolgos of Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart led MPs in the protests saying they wanted Professor Isaac Kosgey given the position instead of Prof Ayiro, who hails from Luhya land.
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