Maasai Mara University VC clashes with MPs over missing officials, audit queries

Maasai Mara University's Vice-Chancellor, Peninah Aloo-Obudho, faced confrontations with Members of Parliament (MPs) during a parliamentary committee session on Thursday. The committee, chaired by Luanda MP Dick Maungu, focused on audit queries related to the university's financial years from 2018 to 2024.

MPs questioned why key officials, including the finance officer, had not been present to respond to outstanding audit matters. MP Maurice Kaikai Bissau accused Aloo-Obudho of being hostile towards the committee's questions. "I'm really surprised that the VC has just decided to be hostile. This is a public investments committee, education and governance. It’s an audit committee, and we are here to interrogate each and every issue," Bissau stated.

Aloo-Obudho explained that the finance officer had been placed on compulsory leave by the university council to aid investigations. However, MPs criticized the timing of this leave, noting it occurred just two days before the university was set to appear before the committee.

The committee, consisting of MPs from various constituencies, deferred scrutiny of the Auditor-General's reports for the specified audit periods due to the unresolved issues. Maungu warned Aloo-Obudho against perceived hostility and intimidation, emphasizing that the committee was not for casual conversation.

The committee has nine unresolved audit queries spanning from 2018 to 2022, touching on various aspects like contracted services, cash balances, allowances, and more. The Auditor-General's representative informed MPs that the university had not formally responded to these queries, a claim disputed by Aloo-Obudho, who presented documents addressing matters up to 2022.

Maungu stressed that the older queries needed to be resolved before proceeding to later audit reports. The committee also revisited the 2019 "Mara Heist" exposé, which detailed allegations of financial losses under the previous Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mary Walingo. The committee directed the university to collaborate with the Auditor-General to resolve the outstanding issues and to return in two weeks with the required officials and current information.