Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) CEO Charles Ringera is a troubled man. Powerful brokers in government are pushing for his exit from the plum position as he struggles to have his expired contract renewed.
Scheme to kick him out was discussed during a tension-packed board meeting that was meant to address Helb intrigues that need quick action.
In-fights have rocked the Ekwee Ethuro led board which appears ready to announce new changes at HELP and Mr Ringera’s successor.
Ringera got to Helb’s top leadership 2013 in total disobedience of the Mwongozo code of governance which caps the tenure at six years, two terms of three years.
His time at HELB has expired but the Auditor General has not flagged the glaring issue of Ringera who is now in his 10th year as the CEO and blowing taxpayer’s money in salaries and allowances.
Ringera did not respond to this reporter when contacted to clear the air on the controversies surrounding his stay at the Helb as the CEO.
He recently failed alongside 10 other candidates who were shortlisted for the position of deputy governor Central Bank of Kenya.
Ringera lost to former Wildlife PS Susan Koech of the Arror and Kimwarer dam scandal who was appointed as deputy governor of CBK by President William Ruto.
A recent High Court ruling that compelled Ringera to refund Sh491,182 that he stole from the State Agency.
High Court judge Esther Maina in her ruling stated that Ringera abused his position in 2019 by ordering Helb’s chief finance officer Shem Gichimu to increase the salary of chief operations officer Geoffrey Monari without the approval Ethuro who chair’s HELB Board.
The incremental credits awarded by Ringera to Monari were against Article 226(5) of the Constitution which state, “If the holder of a public office, including a political office, directs or approves the use of public funds contrary to law or instructions, the person is liable for any loss arising from that use and shall make good the loss, whether the person remains the holder of the office or not.”
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been given green-light to hold the officials who looted with Ringera individually responsible and to surcharge them for any loss of public funds resulting from their illegal actions.
Other helb board members include Cherly Majiwa, Habil Olaka, Charles Maranga, Mwenda Ntarangwi, Francis Aduol, Mumo Kisau, Jacqueline Mugo and Wambui Kosgey.
