UoN defends fresh VC recruitment amid staff backlash and leadership wrangles

The University of Nairobi (UoN) has defended its decision to re-advertise the post of Vice-Chancellor 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. 

The move has sparked a storm among sections of university staff, some of whom have questioned the motive behind the fresh advertisement.

The university staff now claim the possibility of a preferred candidate in the new recruitment drive on December 17.

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

However, the university council has dismissed claims of malice, saying the earlier recruitment process was declared a mistrial, forcing the nullification of the entire exercise.

University council chairman Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha in an interview with The Standard stated that the council in a meeting ruled to do a fresh recruitment to fill the top job.

“The council does not appoint the Vice Chancellor; it is the Public Service Commission that will conduct the interviews as per the University Act. There is no malice in the fresh recruitment,” Chacha told the Standard.

The council decision comes after a fresh leadership struggle, after a candidate who ranked second in interviews done earlier in January for the Vice Chancellor position is seeking to be appointed the new university boss.

In a demand letter dated November 20, Prof Duke Orata accused the council of continued delay in failing to appoint him as the VC despite being the remaining leading candidate.

However, the council chairman Chacha said no rules require that once the top candidate has declined appointment, then the second candidate automatically takes the position.

“The previous interviews were conducted under the leadership of the previous council and when we took office, it was termed a mistrial because of the nature of how it was done, this is the reason we need fresh recruitment,” Chacha said.

The university council has now asked those interested to submit their applications for competitive appointment.

He further stated that those who previously participated in the first interviews can equally take part in the second interview.

“If they are the best then they should not be afraid, they should submit an application and indeed if they are the best, they will emerge top in the interviews and will be appointed,” Prof Chacha said in an interview.

Earlier this month, the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU)  condemned the University of Nairobi for re-advertising the vice chancellor position, describing it as wasteful, opaque, and damaging to the institution’s credibility.

UASU leaders said that the re-advertisement is unnecessary, as the Public Service Commission had already completed interviews and shortlisted three qualified candidates six months ago.

 “Why re-advertise the VC position when the process was already done? This is a waste of public resources and undermines transparency,” UASU UoN chapter Chairman Richard Bosire said in a press briefing.

The union accused the university leadership of allegedly ignoring merit-based procedures, warning that political influence, nepotism, and ethnicity should not play role in public appointments.

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.

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.