Embakasi East MP Babu Owino missed a life time oppotunity to ask tough questions to his former VC Professor George Magoha who had appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments.
However Babu has expressed his admiration for Prof. Magoha born out of years of the latter being his Vice Chancellor at the University of Nairobi.
Babu stated that Prof Magoha was a competent candidate to lead the Education Ministry where he had been nominated by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He also narrated his personal experience with Prof Magoha, whom he credited for giving him a second chance at UoN after he was suspended while he was still a student.
“Prof is a man of who believes in second chances and he believes in young people. When I was the student leader I presented various cases of students who had even been expelled and he believed in them and gave them a second chance,” Babu said.
“There was a case of students who were expelled over a murder charge but after they were acquitted, we went and talked to him (Prof. Magoha) and he allowed them back to finish their studies,” he added.
The Embakasi East MP, who built his reputation in politics as a young and vibrant student leader further stated that UoN owed part of it’s success to Prof. Magoha who took the University to its glory when he was the Vice Chancellor.
“UoN rose to the top in Kenya and number four in Africa under Magoha. I am watching to see how he transforms the education sector for the sake of young people in this country,” the lawmaker stated.
Although Babu was present at Prof Magoha’s vetting, the Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi barred him from participating in the approval hearing of the Education Cabinet Secretary nominee.
Muturi ruled that Owino’s request to be incorporated in the session as a friend of the committee was unprocedural since he did not write to the Speaker’s office seeking permission.