Masinde Muliro University has put off plans to award Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli an Honorary Degree during its 12th graduation ceremony on Friday.
Vice Chancellor Fred Otieno confirmed that the proposed award of Degree Humane Letters (Labour Relations) to Atwoli has been put off.
“The award will not go on as planned earlier and I refer you to the university spokesman to give reasons as to why it will not proceed.”
The university has denied claims that it was under pressure from the ministry of education to cancel the award on political grounds.
“There is no politics in this. The postponement is because the process that is supposed to be followed before the award is not complete,” Bob Mbori, MMUST spokesman, said.
Mbori, who is also the convenor of the MMUST Honorary Degrees Awards Committee, said the senate and university council had advised that Atwoli’s ceremony be held at another graduation in the near future.
““I can assure you that the process has just been postponed but not cancelled. Once we are through with what is required, it will proceed on the guidance of the relevant authorities.”
The university had on December 5advertised in a local newspaper that it had nominated Atwoli for the degree following recommendations by the university senate and council.
The university also wrote to Atwoli about the nomination for the award.
“The award is in recognition of Atwoli’s long service and commitment to the national, regional and international trade union leadership,” a statement issued on the nomination of the award of the degree said.