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To : MPUC Fraternity
(a) Welcome
I wish to take this opportunity to welcome the entire MPUC fraternity back to College to resume our normal programmes interrupted by unfortunate incident on the 29th March, 2010 and subsequent events.
(b) Students’ Goal
We note that the majority of students have cleared their fees with a serious intention to learn, sit for exams, get results and enter the job market to compete with others. We appreciate the sacrifices and efforts parents, guardians, sponsors are making to ensure a bright future for you.
(c) The College’s Role
The University College and government has the sole responsibility to provide resources to ensure that students acquire right attitudes, knowledge, skills and be conferred/awarded Diplomas/Degrees. As a Centre of Excellence, we have a clear Vision to be a World Class University in Engineering, Science & Technology.
(d) Student Participation in Management
The institution has put in place good corporate practices to ensure transparency and accountability in managing its affairs. The Student Leadership is incorporated in the Council, Academic Board, Disciplinary Committee and the Student Union organs in making decisions and resolving issues especially those affecting students’ welfare directly.
All our offices are open to students who have issues to be addressed for the smooth running of the institution. It is regrettable to note that despite the laid down procedures for solving Issues as a community, the student leadership ignored the management in resolving the sad incident which occurred very far away from the institution and was being handled by government machinery.
(e) Unrest
We regret that many of you caught in the melee were not involved in the unrest and we apologize to those traumatized, beaten, arrested and arraigned in court.
We wish to assure the student fraternity that through our Legal Office we shall endeavor to have these cases resolved to enable these traumatized students continue with their normal lives.
(f) College Legal Order, Statutes, Rules & Regulations
We wish to reiterate to the entire fraternity that we are running the University College with a clear legal order, statutes with rules and regulations that guide our day to day operations which members of staff and students are required to abide by.
It is regrettable to note that the student leadership ignored all this by leading the students to the streets twice leading to the closure inconveniencing parents, guardians, staff and other students.
We did all in our capacity to facilitate the funeral and burial arrangements for the Late student.
On the 25th March, 2010 when the incident was reported, the Students Leadership held a demo to the Provincial Police Office to present a protest note about the loss of their colleague.
This demo was understandable and there were no ugly incidences and learning continued normally.
On the 29th March, 2010 when the body was being transferred from Msambweni to Mombasa the student leader defied instructions from the management not take students to the ferry.
He went ahead and mobilized some students to head to the ferry which led to riots at the Buxton with destruction of property and the subsequent the indefinite closure of the University College.
(g) Disciplinary Committee
A Disciplinary Committee of the Academic Board was formed to deal with the unrest. A number of key Ring Leaders identified by the Committee were invited through the various available means and given an opportunity to appear before the committee to clear their names, they defiantly declined to do so. It is regrettable that out of the fifteen (15) summoned, only three (3) presented themselves. Two (2) of these were cleared and the other was suspended for one academic year.
(g) SUMPUC Leaders’ Actions
They resorted to the media and other means issuing threats intended to intimidate the management to reopen the College and readmit them unconditionally, despite the unwarranted destruction to public property that had taken place. In addition, the events have dented the good image of this great institution.
The Disciplinary Committee looked at each case on merit and recommended appropriate disciplinary measures. The affected students were given 14 days to appeal to the Principal.
The Council further noted that the SUMPUC has been operating under the former MPSU constitution which does not reflect the current University status. The College will facilitate review of this constitution to be in line with University practices, as recommended by the Council.
In conclusion, the College regrets the sad incident and hopes it will never recur again. The management will endeavor to resolve problems together with staff and students to arrive at amicable solutions. Defiance of authority will not tolerated.
Lastly, I am glad we have re-opened the College and things are back to normal and wish those preparing for exams the very best.
Thanks and God Bless You!
Prof. J. K. Z Mwatelah
PRINCIPAL Date: 13th May, 2010