Former senior officials of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) have been summoned by Parliament to answer questions over controversial transactions linked to the university’s former Kigali campus after lawmakers raised concerns over irregular land purchases, unauthorised loans and alleged fraudulent transfer of public funds.
The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education (PIC-G&E), chaired by Luanda MP Dick Maungu, directed former Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mabel Imbuga, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Finance Prof. Bernard Otoki, former Head of Finance and former Kigali Campus Director Anthony Luvanda to appear before it, saying accountability could not be established in their absence.
“There is an element of impunity by this person, the director. We may not close the matter unless we have heard him and the committee is able to scrutinise him,” Maungu ruled.
The summons followed scrutiny of the Auditor-General’s report for the financial year ended June 30, 2025, which questioned the acquisition of two parcels of land in Kigali valued at more than Ksh.19.7 million, an 80million shilling loan obtained without the required approvals and the alleged irregular transfer of more than Ksh.8 million from the campus account.
The audit also cited missing procurement records, valuation reports and evidence that the land acquisition had been budgeted for.
Current JKUAT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Victoria Ngumi distanced the present administration from the disputed transactions, telling MPs the irregularities were inherited.
“When the management discovered what was happening in Kigali, the director was suspended pending investigations, taken through a disciplinary process and summarily dismissed. The matter was reported to EACC,” she said.
Lawmakers insisted the former officials must personally account for the decisions.
“We cannot allow people to breach the law and then simply retire and go home,” said Igembe Central MP Daniel Karitho.
The committee also questioned how the university secured an Ksh.80 million loan before obtaining the necessary approvals to establish the Kigali campus, with MPs describing the move as a blatant violation of established procedures.
“How do you obtain a loan way before you get approval to start a campus? It is irregular!” Kasipul Member of Parliament Byod Were paused.
JKUAT told the committee it has since disposed off the Kigali properties, settled one legal dispute with a former landlord and transferred movable assets back to the main campus.
However, MPs deferred consideration of the audit queries until the former officials appear before the committee, saying only those directly involved can provide answers to the issues raised by the Auditor-General.
