VC lays bare toxic relationship between UoN management, council

MPs have unearthed deep divisions between the University of Nairobi (UoN) management and the university council, which have fueled a protracted leadership dispute at the institution.

Appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee, UoN Acting Vice Chancellor Margaret Hutchinson described the relationship between the university management and the council as "toxic."

She acknowledged the ongoing conflict but expressed commitment to build a more conducive working environment.

“Where we have been has not been a good place, where management and council don’t seem to see eye to eye. So there is an opportunity for us to have a more conducive environment, because where we are now is quite toxic, and that’s why I was giving you just a glimpse of that,” Prof Hutchinson stated in her presentation.

Members of Parliament pressed the acting vice chancellor to clarify whether she had been coerced into taking up the role.

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Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo questioned why the university's leadership had been embroiled in constant wrangles.

“I am an alumni of this university. That the university is engaged from morning to evening in fights, with failure to follow the statutes and even failure to follow law,” Gisairo said.

The Education Committee Chairman Julius Melly, criticised the university council for allegedly overstepping its mandate, asserting that it had taken over the day-to-day running of the institution, a role reserved for the management.

“We have noted with a lot of concern that the council is engaging in illegalities that are not supported by law, including the day-to-day running of the institution,” Melly said during an inspection tour of the university, where the committee met with the management team led by Prof. Hutchinson.

During the meeting, Prof Hutchinson also announced that she would not be seeking to replace Prof Stephen Kiama as the substantive Vice Chancellor, despite the ongoing leadership wrangles.

She confirmed that applications were underway to replace Prof Kiama, who was dismissed in October 2024.

However, she did not disclose her reasons for opting out of the race.

The leadership crisis at the University of Nairobi traces its roots to the controversial ousting of Prof Kiama.

In October 2023, the university council dismissed Prof Kiama, citing governance issues and a breakdown in relations between him and the council.

On Tuesday, University of Nairobi Students’ Association (UNSA) opposed Parliament’s inquiry into the institution’s governance reforms, terming the process biased and politically influenced.

UNSA President Rocha Madzao said the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Education appeared to have pre-determined conclusions about the university’s restructuring efforts.

“Some university stakeholders have made reference to findings attributed to the committee on matters still under active inquiry, suggesting the process has been hijacked,” said Madzao.

The association defended reforms implemented since 2021, arguing they had improved efficiency and financial sustainability.

It cited cost-cutting measures, restructuring of faculties, and the closure of non-viable satellite campuses as key changes that helped stabilise operations.

Madzao warned against external interference, saying university autonomy must be respected.

“It is impossible for the committee to understand the complexity of the university in one or two sessions. Functional autonomy must be respected,” he said.