PSC advertises top university positions as UoN languishes in power vacuum

The Public Service Commission has commenced the process of filling top leadership positions at major public universities across the country.

The process marks a fresh search for a substantive vice chancellor at the University of Nairobi more than a year after the sacking of Stephen Kiama.

In a newspaper advert on Tuesday, PSC called for applications for three posts of: Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, and Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance, Planning and Development the country's premier university.

Also advertised is a vacancy for the position of Vice Chancellor at Kenyatta University, with the term of the current VC Paul Wainaina set to end in March.

PSC is also seeking to fill the position of Vice Chancellor at Maseno University and Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic, Research and Student Affairs at Laikipia University.

Applicants have until January 9, 2026, at 5pm to submit their job applications.

The advertisement comes at a time when the University of Nairobi is facing prolonged leadership instability marked by court cases, acting appointments and governance disputes that have disrupted management and day-to-day operations.

This could now open a new battlefront in the university's leadership crisis and comes six months after the university council, led by Amukowa Anangwe, was forced to step down after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission opened an investigation into abuse of office.

The Ministry of Education appointed Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha to replace Prof Anangwe as the university council chairman.

Others appointed to the university council as members are John Kakonge, Samuel Njuguna Kimani, Jonathan Ltipalei Lodompui and Mary Amuyunzu.

The seat fell vacant after months of leadership wrangles between Prof Kiama and the university council, culminating in his dismissal in October 2024.

The renewed recruitment comes after the expiry of the Acting Vice Chancellor Margaret Hutchinson Jesang a month ago after serving two terms in an acting capacity, with her latest extension running until October 9.

It also comes eight months after the top-ranked candidate for the post controversially declined the job in May, and barely weeks after the second-ranked candidate threatened court action to push for his appointment.

Bitange Ndemo, who emerged top in interviews conducted by PSC, declined to take up the position, citing irregularities in the appointment process, a move that further complicated efforts to stabilise leadership at the institution.

Prof Ndemo withdrew from the race after he had been announced as the new VC, 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.

On November 20, a candidate who ranked second in the interviews for the VC position moved to court seeking to compel his appointment as the new university boss.

Duke Orata accused the council of continued delay in failing to appoint him as the VC despite being the remaining leading candidate.

“On March 21, 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 Orata, reads.

In the letter, the lawyers representing Orata now argue that the decision by Bitange to take a back seat from the university leadership leaves him as the top candidate and further ask 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 they will pursue all available legal avenues in pursuit of justice if the council fails to appoint their client.