JKUAT Officials Summoned Over Kigali Campus Land and Sh80m Loan Scandal

• The National Assembly's Public Investments Committee is investigating transactions linked to JKUAT's former Kigali campus.
• Questionable land purchases, unauthorized loans, and alleged irregular transfer of funds are under scrutiny.
• Several senior officials have been summoned to explain their roles in these transactions.
• The committee's investigation may set a precedent for similar cases in Kenya and inform policy decisions on university governance.

The National Assembly's Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education (PIC-G&E) has launched an investigation into a series of transactions linked to the former Kigali campus of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). The committee, chaired by Luanda MP Dick Maungu, is scrutinizing questionable land purchases, unauthorized loans, and alleged irregular transfer of funds. According to the Auditor-General's report for the financial year ending June 30, 2025, the university purchased two parcels of land in Kigali valued at more than Sh19.7 million without proper approvals. The audit also raised concerns about the absence of procurement plans, tender documents, valuation reports, and evidence that funds for the acquisition had been budgeted. Furthermore, the former campus director secured a loan facility from I&M Bank Rwanda, estimated to be over Sh80 million, without authorization. The committee has summoned several senior officials, including Vice-Chancellor Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, Deputy Vice-Chancellors Prof. Robert Kinyua and Prof. Bernard Ikua, and Chief Finance Officer Mary Ngugi, among others, to explain their roles in these transactions.

The committee's investigation is not just about accountability, but also about setting a precedent for similar cases in Kenya. Lawyers may need to advise clients on the implications of this scandal, particularly with regards to recovery of misappropriated funds. The Inspectorate of State Corporations has recommended recovery of Sh8.06 million allegedly transferred irregularly from the Kigali campus account. Committee Vice-Chairperson Boyd Were noted that JKUAT had itself acknowledged procurement irregularities, and MPs want to establish whether the recommended recoveries have been implemented. This case highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in public institutions, particularly when it comes to financial transactions.

The Kigali campus scandal has far-reaching implications for JKUAT's governance and management. The committee's investigation may set a precedent for similar cases in Kenya, and the recovery of misappropriated funds is crucial to maintaining public trust. As Igembe Central MP Daniel Karitho said, 'We cannot allow people to breach the law and then simply retire and go home.' The committee's findings will also inform policy decisions on university governance and management, ensuring that similar irregularities are prevented in the future.

Lawyers may need to advise clients on the implications of this scandal, particularly with regards to accountability and recovery of misappropriated funds. The committee's investigation may also set a precedent for similar cases in Kenya.

Source: Original reporting via Capital FM Kenya