Fresh leadership crisis hits UoN over VC appointment
Education
By
Lewis Nyaundi
| Nov 23, 2025
A fresh leadership struggle is shaping up at the University of Nairobi following the expiry of Prof Margaret Hutchinson's term as acting Vice Chancellor.
Prof Hutchinson was appointed for a second time in an acting capacity by the Ministry of Education to head the university on May 9.
Prof Bitange Ndemo, the top VC candidate in the interviews conducted by the Public Service Commission(PSC), declined to take up the position, citing irregularities in the appointment process.
And now, a candidate who ranked second in interviews for the Vice Chancellor position is seeking to be appointed the new university boss.
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A demand letter seen by the Standard, dated November 20, accuses the council of continued delay in failing to appoint Prof Duke Orata as the VC despite being the remaining leading candidate.
“On 21st March 2025, the Public Service Commission conducted interviews for the position of the Vice Chancellor and our client Professor Duke Omondi Orata was one of the three finalists among the five shortlisted candidates, wherein he finished second behind Professor Bitange Ndemo,” the letter by A.G. Kimani & Co. Advocates—acting for Prof Duke Omondi Orata reads.
It is addressed to the University Council and copied to the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Julias Ogamba and Beatrice Inyangala, the Principal Secretary for Higher Education.
Prof Ndemo, in May, withdrew from the race after he had been announced as the new VC on Thursday, dashing hopes of a stable succession after months of push and pull.
Ndemo — Kenya’s ambassador to Belgium — said in a LinkedIn statement that he decided to withdraw after noting procedural irregularities in the appointment process.
"I dissociate myself from this unprocedural process and have withdrawn my candidacy for the position," he stated.
And in the letter, the lawyers representing Prof. Orata now argue that the decision by Prof Bitange to take a back seat from the university leadership leaves him as the top candidate and further asking the university council to appoint him as VC.
“Our said client has a legitimate expectation to be appointed as Vice Chancellor in view of the withdrawal of Professor Bitange Ndemo from the race. The continued failure by the council to appoint our client to the position which he qualifies for on merit is a glaring irregularity on the standards of fairness expected in such a high-level appointment,” the letter reads
The lawyers warn that if the council fails to appoint Prof Orata they will pursue all available legal avenues in pursuit of justice.
The crisis comes at a time when the Ministry of Education has failed to resolve a leadership vacuum that has persisted since last month, when the acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Margaret Hutchinson’s term expired.
Prof Hutchinson had already served two consecutive six-month terms in acting capacity, which is the maximum period allowed for an acting official by law.
Her latest extension ran from May 9 to October 9.
This, constitutional lawyer Ken Echesa said, means she is no longer eligible for another extension under public service rules.
This could now open a new battlefront in the university leadership crisis and comes six months after the university council, led by Prof Amukowa Anangwe, was forced to step down after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission opened an investigation on abuse of office.
The Ministry of Education appointed Prof Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha to replace Anangwe as the university council chairman.
Others appointed to the university council as members are Dr John Kakonge, Samuel Njuguna Kimani, Dr Jonathan Ltipalei Lodompui and Mary Amuyunzu.
However, the University Council and the Ministry are yet to issue public statements on the matter.