Members of Parliament have ordered former Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) officials to appear before a parliamentary committee as scrutiny deepens over a series of disputed transactions tied to the university's former Kigali campus, saying those who approved the decisions must now explain how they were made.
The National Assembly's Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education (PIC-G&E) issued the directive on Tuesday after reviewing the Auditor-General's report for the financial year ending June 30, 2025. The committee said the current university management could not be expected to answer for actions taken before they assumed office.
The decision followed a meeting chaired by Luanda MP Dick Maungu, where lawmakers said the explanations presented by the current administration were not enough to settle concerns raised in the audit report.
Those who appeared before the committee included Vice-Chancellor Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, Deputy Vice-Chancellors Prof. Robert Kinyua, Prof. Bernard Ikua and Prof. Jackson Kwanza, Chief Finance Officer Mary Ngugi, Chief Legal Officer Richard Wokabi Kariuki and other senior university officers.
At the centre of the investigation are questions surrounding the purchase of land in Kigali, acquisition of a loan without the required approvals, alleged movement of university funds, court cases involving landlords of the former Kigali campus and the whereabouts of assets after the campus was shut down.
The committee directed former Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mabel Imbuga, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Finance Prof. Bernard Otoki, the former Head of Finance and former Kigali Campus Director Anthony Luvanda to appear before lawmakers to respond to the issues.
Members of the committee maintained that the inquiry could only move forward after hearing from the people who handled the transactions under review.
"There are a lot of illegalities as pertains to the procedures, acquisition and use," said Central Imenti MP Moses Kirima, arguing that the inquiry could not be concluded without hearing from the former officials.
Kilome MP Hon. Thaddeus Nzambia questioned how the former Kigali campus director appeared to have operated without the involvement of both the university council and the Ministry of Education.
"We need to know who this director was and where he is so that he can shed some light," he said, adding that it would be unfair to expect the current management to answer for decisions made years before they took office.
Lunga Lunga MP Hon. Chiforomondo Mangale termed the audit issues "weighty", pointing to the purchase of land, alleged fraudulent transfer of funds and loans worth more than Sh80 million.
Igembe Central MP Daniel Karitho also urged the committee to ensure former public officers do not avoid responsibility after leaving office.
According to the Auditor-General, JKUAT bought two parcels of land in Kigali valued at more than Sh19.7 million despite sale agreements being signed before approval was obtained from the Ministry of Education. The audit also found that procurement plans, tender documents, valuation reports and budget approvals were missing.
The report further showed that the former Kigali campus director secured a loan from I&M Bank Rwanda before receiving clearance from the University Council, the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury.
In addition, the Inspectorate of State Corporations recommended the recovery of Sh8.06 million that was allegedly transferred irregularly from the campus account.
Prof. Ngumi told lawmakers that the current administration found the challenges after taking over and immediately started addressing them.
She said the former campus director was suspended, subjected to disciplinary proceedings, summarily dismissed and later reported to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
Chief Finance Officer Mary Ngugi and Chief Legal Officer Richard Wokabi Kariuki told the committee that one dispute with a landlord had already been resolved, while another case involving landlord Martin Higiro is still awaiting determination before the Court of Appeal.
Closing the session, committee chair Dick Maungu said Parliament would keep the matter open until the former officials, especially the former campus director, appear before the committee.
"There is an element of impunity by this person, the director. We may not close the matter unless we have heard him," he said.