Makerere University has been under fire since the institution decided to build and to name an academic institute after Kenyan Vice President Dr William Ruto. Some Kenyans pointed fingers at the institution for trying to influence the polls in Kenya through the move. In an OP-ed published in Kenya’s Daily Nation.

Kenyan academic, Prof Makau Mutua wrote that the university had gone from “being the oldest and most iconic institution of higher learning in East Africa to the butt of jokes.”

Mutua opined that Ruto doesn’t deserve such a honor given to him by Makerere. 

Makerere’s academic harlotry is a scarlet letter that will be written in the sands of time,” 

Ruto, he said in his letter, lacks integrity and ethics and has over the years been entangled in corruption scandals, among others.

The university termed has however come out to defend its decision terming the criticism as misguided.

“The Institute is not an academic award as Prof. Makau W. Mutua seems to insinuate, but a rare initiative by an African political leader to support African indigenous scholarship,” the university said.

“William Ruto’s initiative should be commended by all patriotic African elites and not condemned out of apparent misconception.”

“Makerere awaits the implementation of yet another initiative by another great Kenyan leader, Mwai Kibaki, which he launched four years ago.”

A Foundation Stone was laid for the William Ruto Institute of African and Leadership Studies at Makerere’s Department of Performing Arts and Film Grounds

The institute aims at developing innovative approaches to teaching and learning about Africa.