On 20 November 2018, Meru University of Science and Technology moved to fill the Deputy Vice Chancellor slot after Gitonga Mburugu was removed from office amid allegations of corruption and misconduct.
The vacancy was placed in local newspapers, a clear sign that the university was moving on from a tenure that had drawn repeated criticism from students and observers. The advertisement effectively confirmed that the position previously held by Mburugu was open for applications.
The archive account says Mburugu had been accused of running the institution with heavy-handed disciplinary methods, including presiding over what were described as kangaroo committees. It also alleges that students were punished for minor conduct issues, with one example given as suspension for stepping on a spoon.
Further allegations linked the university leadership to the death of student leader Evans Njoroge, who was shot dead by a rogue officer the previous year. The article says the Ministry of Education had begun a purge at Meru University after it emerged that officials had sanctioned and directly given the order for his elimination.
The piece also claims Mburugu was closely associated with Professor Magambo in carrying out disciplinary actions against students, and that he had warned he would deal with students who were loud during the struggle. It further alleges that he used shell companies to loot the institution and should be arrested and charged over fraud and mismanagement.
Nyakundi Report notes that these are allegations as presented in the source archive and are reproduced here for historical record. No denial or formal response from Gitonga Mburugu is included in the source material.
