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The Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ), also known as the Office of the Ombudsman has started investigations on the disputed Students Organization of the University of Nairobi (SONU) elections.
A message from the commission said the findings and recommendations of the investigation will inform policy necessary for actionable interventions for effective governance of students organizations in public universities.
“Article 59 (2) (h) and (i) mandate the commission to investigate any conduct in state affairs or any act or omission in public administration in any sphere of government and complaints of abuse of power, unfair treatment, manifest injustice or unlawful, oppressive, unfair or unresponsive official conduct. Further, Section 8 (d) of the Commission on Administrative Justice Act mandates the Commission to inquire into among others, allegations of maladministration, delay, incompetence, inefficiency and ineptitude within the public service,” CAJ said in the statement on Wednesday.
Among the specific issues the commission will be investigating include the regime of students’ elections, the mandatory contributions by all students towards SONU and accountability in the disbursement and management of the funds, the disciplinary and administrative processes following the students’ unrest among others.
The University of Nairobi was closed indefinitely after a section of students held protests over the re-election of the longest serving SONU chairman, Babu Owino.
SONU offices and a section of students’ hostels were burnt during the riots, forcing the institution to suspend more than 150 students and initiating disciplinary process against those who took part in the strike.
