By Gikuyu Ntoogo
Embattled Chuka University Vice-Chancellor Erastus Njoka’s high school principal, Mr Nyaga Maiti has come out to defend the don against fake academic documents allegations.
Mr Maiti said he taught the VC at Nkubu High School and that he scored two principal passes and two subsidiaries in Form Six which gave him a chance to join university.
Speaking to media at Pacha Hotel in Maara, he said Prof Njoka was among the top students in Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE) at the school in 1981.
“The don was my student and he was taking Biology, Chemistry, Geography and General Paper and he performed very well and proceeded to university in Russia,” said Mr Maiti.
He said he was surprised to read stories in the newspapers that Prof Njoka was being investigated by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over fake academic papers claims.
Mr Maiti said the VC served as a prefect and was a very committed member of the Christian Union movement for the two years that he spent in the school.
“I am the one who signed Prof Njoka’s secondary school leaving certificate and I am ready to defend him even before a court of law,” he said.
After leaving Nkubu High School which he had joined from Chuka Boys’ High School, Mr Maiti was transferred to Nairobi School and later retired as a chief principal at Igoji Teachers College in Meru County.
Mr Mbae Baini, Prof Njoka classmate at Nkubu High School said the don was a very bright student and was among the top students in KACE and that he was surprised to hear that his academic qualifications were being questioned.
“In fact, the VC was the best student in English and he used to help us much in classwork,” said Mr Baini.
University students led by their president, Oscar Kipchumba also condemned the accusations on the VC and challenged politicians to embrace issue-based politics and not witch-hunt.
“We are asking Prof Njoka’s political rivals who are behind the witch-hunt to embrace sober politics and also urge EACC to avoid being used politically,” said Mr Kipchumba.
