Masinde Muliro University has shelved plans to award Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli an honorary degree on Friday.
The varsity denied claims it was under pressure from the Education ministry of Education to cancel the award on political grounds.
“There is no politics. We had not completed the process for him to be given the degree,” Dr Bob Mbori, the university spokesman, said
Mbori, who is also the convenor of the Honorary Degrees Awards Committee of the university, said the Senate and University Council advised that Atwoli’s degree be given at a future graduation.
Atwoli’s personal assistant Adams Barasa said a member of the University Council called the Cotu boss and complained about intimidation.
Mr Atwoli was due to receive the Doctorate in Labour Relations degree from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology on Friday, during the university’s 12th annual graduation ceremony, in recognition of his role as head of the labour movement in Kenya.
According to Mr Sossion, the CS asked the university senate to cancel the award for unknown reasons.
The Knut boss claimed that the CS had on several occasions called on institutions of higher learning to operate independently without interference.
“The decision taken by your office (constitutes) outright interference (with) the management of institutions of higher learning,” said Mr Sossion in a letter dated December 8 to the CS.
The institution awarded former President Mwai Kibaki a similar honorary degree in 2008 and former athlete Tecla Lorupe in 2009.
