Different leaders from Tharaka Nithi County alongside Chuka University alumni have hailed the university vice chancellor Prof Erastus Njoka as a rock star following his clearance by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) of his academic documents’ forgery allegations by anonymous complainant.
During the varsity’s thanksgiving function, Njoka’s associates said it was now clear that the probe into his papers was politically instigated but the truth had been unearthed.
Led by the Chuka University alumni association chairperson Hassan Ojwang, they lauded Njoka for bringing the institution from nowhere to the current world class university that has transformed the image of the county and the Mt Kenya region.
Ojwang on behalf of other association members jubilantly welcomed the EACC’s clearance saying it had re-affirmed that Prof. Njoka was a qualified academician and the investigations were being pushed politically to soil his reputation.
He further noted that attacking the university through Njoka’s qualifications amounted to an attack on thousands of graduates from the university who have had their certificates signed by the vice-chancellor and thus they won’t allow anyone to move that direction.
“We will not allow the only prestigious university in the county to be used as a political tool by cheap propagandists who does not want best for it. Attacking the university through Njoka is equivalent to fighting thousands of graduates who have passed through this university which is very risky,’’ Ojwang noted.
He urged politicians to shun politicking using the university since they are gambling with the future of Kenyans who have been through the institution of higher learning.
The alumni chairman revealed that such a case could result to serious implications for the graduates from Chuka University in jobs market and therefore thanked EACC for moving with speed to investigate and clear the V.C.
Reveal the anonymous complainant
He however said they are much interested in knowing the identity of the anonymous complainant who had moved to EACC doubting Njoka’s qualifications terming the character as the biggest enemy of the county and the university at large.
Former Tharaka Nithi governor Samuel Mbae Ragwa who had accompanied Njoka during the function also lauded Njoka for his efforts of transforming the county through Chuka University that has come to shine nationally thanks to Njoka’s good leadership.
He advised him not to be distracted from working for the university and residents of the county by people who do not want best for the county.
National Director of Fisheries Mutegi Kabisani and businessman from Chuka Muthomi 810 also hailed Njoka for his leadership skills that has made him an household name from the transformations he has made in the county.
Speaking, Professor Njoka termed the allegations leveled against him as baseless and malicious which were politically instigated by his political foes aiming at mudslinging him ahead of the next polls.
He said it is only a fool who cannot see the transformation the university has done in the county such as providing seedlings towards greening the county, building water intakes for various projects like in Rukindu, Nkuthika and others.
Further, Njoka said the university has been sampling farms soil for Tharaka Nithi farmers towards enabling them establish the best seeds and chemicals they should use for improved harvests. This has been happening alongside artificial insemination where Njoka said they got the best breed to help the residents.
Concerning his qualifications, Njoka maintained that just as EACC upheld, he is qualified academician who got scholarship to study in Russia for his undergraduate degree after passing in the then Form Six exams at Nkubu High School.
Njoka revealed that some of his then classmates include Methodist Church of Kenya presiding bishop Joseph Ntombura, Embu university vice chancellor Professor Daniel Mugendi and Manyatta MP John Muchiri.
The Chuka University V.C said the journey to becoming a professor is tedious and anyone doubting his qualifications is just misguided and their plans have already backfired.
He assured his students the best of varsity education in various courses they are undertaking to sharpen them in readiness for the job market once they graduate just like he said he has witnessed with past graduates of Chuka University.
Professor Njoka was summoned by EACC over his degree certificates he acquired from a university abroad.
This emanated from claims by an individual that EACC is yet to name who questioned the document professor Njoka used to secure a government scholarship to study in Russia since he claimed Njoka had failed in his O-level exams.
Unknown to many, Njoka revealed that he has a holder of post graduate diploma in research and a doctorate degree in animal production from Russia’s People’s Friendship University.
The don is also a holder of master’s degree in animal production also from Russia in a Moscow university.
Njoka’s entry into Chuka University was back in 2008 when it was a constituent college of Egerton University and served till 2013 when the college was chartered to a full status university. He has been heading the institution as the Vice Chancellor.
In the clearance letter from EACC that Mwingi Times has seen, the agency says it has no intention to continue with probe.
“We wish to inform you that the commission, in exercising its responsibilities in section 25 of the anti-corruption and crime act, has a reached a decision to discontinue the said investigations,” reads the letter in part.
Njoka who has since declared his interest in Tharaka Nithi gubernatorial position however vowed to continue working towards clinching the county’s top seat come 2022.
STORY By DENIS MUTUA, EDITED By MUSYOKA NGUI
MWINGI TIMES for timely and authoritative news.
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