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| Prof. Olive Mugenda |
Former Kenyatta
University Vice Chancellor Prof. Olive Mugenda has declined a Ksh 100 million sendoff
package awarded to her by the institution as appreciation for her exemplary
performance as she retires.
Citizen
Digital report continues:
The
university council had proposed the hefty package for Prof. Mugenda as a sign
of appreciation in recognition of her impressive development record.
In
a statement to newsrooms, Kenyatta University Director of Communication, Machua
Koinange, confirmed that Mugenda declined the offer.
The
statement adds that when Mugenda took over Kenyatta University as VC, she was
discharging her public duties and did not accept the position with a retirement
package in mind.
The
benefits of the package included a 10 day holiday to a country of her choice in
the company of a spouse or a friend at the cost of Ksh 2.5 million, a personal
vehicle for Ksh 10 million.
Mugenda
was also to get a retirement home in the form of a flat in a suitable
residential area of her choice worth Ksh 20 million. The package was only to
apply to her due to her unique and unprecedented contribution to Kenyatta
University.
The
ex-VC had dispatched the decline of the retirement package in a letter sent to
the University Council on Friday.
“Mugenda
is, however, grateful for the gesture and the support the University Council
has given her during her tenure,” read the statement in part.
“Prof.
Mugenda wishes the staff, students and management of KU a prosperous future and
believes KU will only grow bigger and better with the foundation she has laid
down for it.”
Mugenda
left office Sunday after a decade at the helm.
The
proposed hefty package had been greeted with outrage with a majority of Kenyans
taking to social media to express displeasure of the University Council’s
decision.
During
her last official function (the opening of the Education Complex), at the
university on Thursday, Mugenda dismissed claims by UASU (KU Chapter) officials
saying the university had bought her a car for as a send-off gift.
“If
the council feels the VC has done well why is UASU complaining? In fact they
say I was given a car, can I actually get a car, what is wrong even if a VC is
given a car?” she queried?
“They
should not politicize these things and should let me go in peace. If I was to
steal millions of shillings, I had the time to do so but I have not stolen a
single cent from the university.”
Mugenda’s
move to decline the retirement package comes a day after Council Chairman
Ratemo Michieka on Saturday defended the package terming it as reasonable since
it has to be approved by the Ministry of Education.
Meanwhile,
Prof P. K. Wainaina, who has been Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of
administration, takes office as the new Vice Chancellor.
Source: Citizen Digital
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