Whistleblower in Sh177 Million Maasai Mara University Heist Sacked

Spencer Sankale, the whistleblower in the Sh177 million heist at Maasai Mara University has been sacked.

In a dismissal letter dated June 17th, 2021, Maasai Mara University Council Chairman Kennedy ole Kerei said Sankale was found guilty of nine charges of gross misconduct.

The letter indicates that Sankale appeared before the council for a disciplinary hearing on June 16th, 2020.

He was accused of inciting the institution's staff and members of the public against the university's administration, sustained insolence against his employer, malicious misrepresentation of his employer, libel and defamation, and falsely maligning the image and reputation of the university.

Other charges included sustained insubordination and failure to act in the best interest of the university, sustained disregard of university standards and procedures, sustained cyberbullying, and sustained disregard of university standards and procedures.

"Due to the aforementioned, the Council resolved to summarily terminate your employment with the university with immediate effect, in accordance with section 44 (4)(d)(g) of the Employment Act.”

"Note that you shall be paid a one month's salary in lieu of notice," the dismissal letter states.

In an exposé aired on Citizen TV last year, Sankale revealed how senior Maasai Mara University officials led by Vice-Chancellor Mary Walingo swindled the institution.

Following the expose, Walingo was arrested after investigators established that several cheques were used to irregularly withdraw Sh177,007,754 from the university’s bank accounts for personal use between 2016 and 2019.

Prof. Walingo was charged alongside Prof. Simon Kasaine Ole Seno (Deputy Vice Chancellor-Finance), Prof. John Almadi Obere (former Deputy VC-Academic and Student Affairs), Anaclet Biket Okumu (Finance Officer), and Noor Hassan Abdi (the Vice Chancellor’s driver).

“…there was no justification for the withdrawal of the funds from the said accounts as there are no supporting documents for the expenditure,” DPP Noordin Haji said in a statement.

Evidence gathered showed that money withdrawn by authorized finance officers working at the university was delivered to Prof. Walingo through proxies.