Power disputes within Maasai Mara Technical and Vocational College (TVC) in Narok County are on the verge of abruptly putting an end to the rapidly expanding institution.
Following Principal John Kilonzo’s departure and the ensuing hunt for a worthy successor, issues started to plague the institution.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) assigned Kinara Basweti, who served as the Deputy Principal at the nearby Narok West Technical Training Institute (TTI), to succeed Kilonzo.
A handover ceremony between the outgoing principal and his incoming counterpart was slated for June 5 of this year. Basweti properly reported to his new station on June 1, 2023.
The College management and the Ministry apparently abruptly halted the ceremony, citing the need for additional talks on the appointment.
When Basweti arrived to the college and was confronted by protests from students and some locals, everything went crazy. In the end, the facility was shut down.
Some community members who talked to Education News anonymously expressed their discomfort with Basweti’s appointment and their desire to see one of their own, who had been the Deputy Principal since 2014, promoted to lead the institution.
“This institution has a deputy principal who is a longtime member of the neighborhood. Why wasn’t he given the opportunity to lead this college? Why are they ignoring us?
Despite the fact that there were two deputies at Maasai Mara TVC with even more expertise, he questioned why the Deputy Principal, who had been working at an institution with only 450 pupils, would be promoted to lead one with over 2,000 students.
The parent disclosed that some community leaders who were upset with the circumstances had persuaded President Ruto to step in and make sure one of their own was taken into consideration for the coveted position.
When the Head of State recently traveled to Maasai Mara to attend Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Forest Services Soipan Tuya’s homecoming ceremony, he reportedly spoke with the leaders there.
The date that students would resume their studies is not known yet.
