PROF. HENRY THAIRU RUNS BERSERK AT THE IMMINENT CLOSURE OF INOORERO UNIVERSITY.

Early this week, Prof. Henry Thairu the Vice Chancellor of Inoorero University convened a quick meeting of all the current students and employees of Inoorero University to prepare them for the imminent closure of the institution due to serious cash flow problems. In his address to the students and employees of the University, the Vice Chancellor unequivocally admitted that the institution was facing survival threatening financial crisis. Hence, the University is likely to close in about two to three months.

The vice-chancellor was at pains to own up to the fact that the name “Inoorero” has consistently been rejected by the market. In a rebuttal, the vice-chancellor who appeared profusely agitated and for fear of getting into bad books with the Chancellor, told the gathering that the  University will not change its name, and asked those uncomfortable with the name to submit their letter of resignation, which he would be more than delighted to accept. The whole meeting was shocked at the audacity of the Vice Chancellor to make such untimely and insensitive outburst. The Vice Chancellor admitted that the Human Resources Manager has been receiving an estimated fifteen resignations every week. However, due to the imminent closure of the  university, the Vice Chancellor confirmed that the University Management and Council are currently working out modalities of separation such as severance pay and the liquidation of the staff provident fund, which is grossly under-funded. The Vice Chancellor indicated that he will be sending out a communication on how the university intends to handle staff salaries and benefits once the university is placed on receivership.

The Voice of People Analyst gathered that the Board of the former Kenya School of Professional Studies (KSPS) was strongly advised against adopting the name Inoorero for its university. Further, the Voice of People Analyst was able to confirm that numerous research studies on the efficacy of the brand under “Inoorero” have been done. All the market studies indicate that the market has no place for such a name, which is packed with ethnic connotations. Hence, students have chosen to transfer to other institutions because they do not want to have transcripts and certificates that bear the name Inoorero. With all this insurmountable evidence, the Vice Chancellor is unable to help the university leadership come to terms with what is truly ailing
the institutions for fear of being fired by the Chancellor. This lack of honesty and integrity in matters that are core to the livelihood of the institution makes Prof. Thairu unfit to lead any other organization. The two DVCS are equally not to the task. The Voice of People Operative confirmed that 65% of the total payroll goes with the top leadership of the university, which adds no value to the institution.

Addressing the concerns of the current students, the Vice Chancellor indicated that arrangements are being explored on possible transfers of the current students to other institutions of higher learning in consultation with the Commission for Higher Education (CHE). Reliable sources at the Commission for Higher Education confirmed that discussions with Inoorero University on how to handle the current students have been held and are at advanced stage. Sources at the University confirmed that such meeting with CHE have  been held and the minutes of such meeting are available. However, the Vice Chancellor through the Registrar advised the students to start looking for Universities where they can transfer and complete their degrees, diplomas and certificates.

There was a mood of despair at the meeting as the employees and students attempted to synthesize the imminent death of the sharpening place. The Voice of People operative confirmed that 90% of the employees and students are of the opinion that the University could be salvaged if common sense leadership could be given a chance in the University. For example, one senior member of staff whose is very close to the Chancellor confirmed that the Chancellor holds male chauvinist driven sentiments on the name Inoorero, and anyone who challenges his wisdom on the selection of the name Inoorero is given marching orders through hook and crook. Thus, the Vice Chancellor who lacks grossly in common sense consciousness trembles at the possibilities of being asked to initiate the process of name change. Hence, that is why he busted out in the meeting with “whoever is unhappy with the name can walk out”. Hence, one wonders, whether is it about the name or about what makes business sense.

At the end of the meeting, the Vice Chancellor formed a committee to oversee the imminent closure of the University. The Committee is headed by the DVC_ARS: a man who does not get close to the grasp of the gravity of the matter. The DVC_APD was heard in the corridors blasting employees for lack of loyalty and commitment to the Institution. The Voice of People Analyst could not reach the Chancellor for comments as he was said to be in Parliament.

Horseman Ogutu,Esq.
Voice of People Correspondent, People Foundation, Inc, Social Transformation Advocacy Group, 775 River Oaks Parkway, San Jose, CA 95136

BURUNDI: Aid workers worry about food insecurity

Photo: Judith Basutama/IRIN

One of the regions most affected by the food deficit is Bugesera, covering the northern provinces of Kirundo and part of Muyinga provinces

BUJUMBURA, 23 February 2011 (IRIN) – High food prices, increasing malnutrition and the impact of La Niña are Burundi’s major humanitarian concerns as the country moves from post-conflict to a development phase, say aid workers.

“We cannot take short cuts when it comes to development; we need to absolutely address the basic needs of the population before we go beyond that,” Jean–Charles Dei, the acting humanitarian coordinator for Burundi, told IRIN. “As [members of] the international community, we are monitoring the situation, trying to extinguish fires … [such as] pockets of cholera, measles, diarrhoea or malnutrition.”

After years of civil war in the 1990s, Burundi has embarked on economic recovery but aid workers say much more needs to be done to ensure basic needs are addressed. The war deprived the population of their rights to basic services such as health, education and sanitation.

The infrastructure was extensively damaged and the little that remained intact has not been maintained, with drastic consequences for the provision of health services as preventable or previously eradicated diseases are making a comeback.

“We had cases of polio some months back; there are cases of measles and cholera, which has reached epidemic proportions, mainly because of poor access to water and sanitation,” Dei said. “In parts of the country, most notably in the highlands, there is an ongoing epidemic of malaria.”

The chronic malnutrition rate in Burundi is above 50 percent and more than 60 percent of the population is considered to be food-insecure.

Food deficit

Methode Niyongendako, a UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) consultant, said Burundi’s food deficit was at least 400MT, with some regions in a crisis phase.

IRIN Film: Turning the Page

In August 2000, a peace accord was signed in Burundi, bringing to an end more than a decade of ethnic conflict. Local and presidential elections were held last year but the post-election period has been marked by a deepening sense of insecurity and fear. View film

While the deficit in other areas was at the level of food insecurity, “a little shock could provoke chronic food insecurity”, Niyongendako said.

The most affected regions are Bugesera – covering the northern provinces of Kirundo and part of Muyinga provinces – as well as the Moso region, including the eastern provinces of Ruyigi, Rutana, Cankuzo and parts of southern Makamba province.

The harvest for the 2011 agricultural season, known as season A – from September to February – will not ameliorate this situation because of the La Niña phenomenon, which has hit most of the food-insecure regions.

The latest bulletin by the country’s food security early warning system indicates that the La Niña-induced rain deficit in some highland regions and floods that have damaged crops in these areas have compromised the chances of a good harvest for season A.

On 12 February, two people died and 10 were injured at Mena in Bujumbura Rural’s Kabezi commune when their houses collapsed following heavy rains. Kabezi administrator Léonce Ndinzirindi said 100 houses and several hectares of cassava, beans and bananas were destroyed.

Access to food, therefore, remains a crucial challenge and an area of concern for the humanitarian community as it could compromise Burundi’s chances for stability.

“If we do not pay special attention to feeding people, what may happen is that those people, because of poverty, can develop negative coping mechanisms with the risk of being easily enrolled in armed groups or bandits,” Dei said. “This is a situation we can avoid; this is the main worry we have in this country today.”

Dei said a national investment plan for agriculture exists, which would allow the country to access funds from global agriculture and food security programmes managed by the World Bank.

Dependence on agriculture

A national forum on agriculture and nutrition is scheduled this year and will be expected to put the hunger and nutrition issues on the government’s agenda.

Food insecurity could aggravate an already fragile situation since the conflict has been particularly disruptive to agriculture, with seed production and agricultural infrastructure destroyed.

At least 90 percent of the people depend on agriculture as their principal livelihoods; the high population rates and land scarcity are other factors aggravating food insecurity.

Dei said the UN Word Food Programme (WFP) was monitoring the most vulnerable among the population and had developed a mapping system to identify when the situation became critical.

He said WFP was also looking at “a new cash and voucher system that will help vulnerable groups purchase needed staples during this period of high prices”.

Since the start of 2011, fuel prices have risen from 1,750 francs to 1,900 francs (US$1.54), and 1kg of rice has risen from 1,000 ($0.80) to 1,300 francs ($1.04).

“The international community should pay attention to what is happening in Burundi because poverty and the huge effects of the social political crisis on the population could create social tension,” Dei said.

“The [population's] needs are getting bigger and bigger; today we need to invest maybe $200 million in nutrition and food, but [that] will increase at an exponential rate if we don’t do it today.”

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source http://www.irinnews.org