Members of Parliament have directed the Vice Chancellor of the University of Embu, Prof. Daniel Njiru, to personally reimburse KSh3.8 million for misappropriating institutional funds without necessary approvals. He is accused of diverting money intended for implementing the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to other uses without authorization, as well as incurring expenditures without the University Council’s consent.
These issues were highlighted in Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s audit report for the 2013–2014 financial year. The Parliamentary Investment Committee on Governance and Education, chaired by Jack Wamboka, resolved that the VC be surcharged individually, not through the university’s budget. Wamboka criticized Njiru’s unilateral decisions, calling them a blatant abuse of office and signs of incompetence, and ordered that the amount be paid within six months.
In his defense, Prof. Njiru claimed that verbal approval had been granted to reallocate the funds toward refurbishing university infrastructure, noting the institution’s facilities were inherited in poor condition from the former Embu Agricultural Staff Training College. However, the audit indicated the CBA funds, totaling KSh81.5 million, should have been returned to the Ministry of Education rather than redirected.
Additionally, the university breached wage bill regulations by spending 54.9% of its Sh1.4 billion revenue—around Sh786 million—on staff remuneration, exceeding legal limits. The Committee also reprimanded the University of Nairobi, fining its management Sh500,000 for submitting documents to the Auditor General just hours before their scheduled hearing and appearing before the committee without necessary documentation.
