Intrigues, power play and billions in the fierce battle for UoN top job

The race to fill the top job at the University of Nairobi has entered the homestretch after nearly two years of leadership wrangles, court battles and governance disputes.

Interviews for the next vice chancellor (VC) were conducted on Thursday, with six candidates appearing before the selection panel in what could mark the end of an 18-month leadership vacuum.

Those shortlisted from the list of eight applicants were Prof Bernard Odhiambo Aduda, Prof Isaiah Omolo Ndiege, Prof Stephen Onyango Odebero, Prof Mary Abukutsa-Onyango, Prof Francis Jackim Mulaa and Prof Ayub Njoroge Gitau.

The successful candidate will fill a seat that has remained without a substantive holder since the dramatic departure of Prof Stephen Kiama, whose tenure ended following months of conflict with the university council and government authorities. The council ended his contract on September 27, 2024. 

His departure followed a period marked by suspensions, accusations of misconduct and insubordination, and deep governance disputes that paralysed decision-making at the institution.

Since then, the university has been under the acting VC Margaret Jesang Hutchinson, who has served two consecutive terms.

Shockingly, Prof Hutchinson did not to apply for the position.

The current recruitment drive was initiated in December last year when the Public Service Commission advertised three top positions: VC, and two deputy VCs in charge of Academic Affairs, and Finance, Planning and Development.

In earlier interviews, Prof Bitange Ndemo, who served as Principal Secretary and later ambassador to Belgium, was placed at the top with a score of 84 per cent. Second on the list was Prof Duke Omondi Orata with 73 per cent, followed by Prof Francis Jackim Mulaa with 66.7 per cent.

In a letter dated May 5 2025, University Council Chairperson Amukowa Anangwe announced the appointment of Ndemo. The council also indicated changes in the acting VC, picking Prof Jackim Mulaa.

Hopes that the appointment would bring an end to the leadership crisis were quickly dashed when Ndemo withdrew.

In a statement posted on LinkedIn, Ndemo said he had noted irregularities since Prof Anangwe did not consult the Ministry of Education.

The ministry disowned the appointment, terming it unlawful and in breach of the Universities Act, 2012.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry of Education confirms that there were no consultations between the University of Nairobi council and the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education on any of the purported appointments,” said Principal Secretary for Higher Education, Beatrice Inyangala, a member of the council.

The PS also reinstated Hutchinson as acting VC. 

The withdrawal of Ndemo left the university scrambling to restart the recruitment process. 

The development also drove a wedge between the ministry and the Anangwe team.

 In April 2025, the government dissolved the council following investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission into alleged abuse of office.

Several council members were later arrested and charged, effectively paralysing the institution’s governing body. The three remaining members — Anangwe, Carren Omwenga and Ahmed Abdullahi — were barred from office after they were charged with abuse of office in May.

Reports indicate that the officials have since been negotiating for their charges to be dropped in exchange for their resignation.

In a gazette notice on July 25, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba appointed Prof Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha the new council chairman. Other members appointed were John Kakonge, Mary Amuyunzu, Samuel Njuguna Kimani and Jonathan Lodompui.

The new team inherited the difficult task of restoring stability at an institution grappling with leadership uncertainty and financial distress.

But the controversy deepened.

Barely weeks after Ndemo stepped aside, Prof Orata threatened court action seeking to compel the university to appoint him as VC on the basis that he had ranked second in the interviews.

The dispute eventually landed in the Employment and Labour Relations Court, where Justice Jorum Abuodha issued orders suspending the recruitment process.

But Chacha said the council had resolved to conduct a fresh recruitment after reviewing how the earlier interviews had been handled.

“The council does not appoint the vice chancellor; it is the Public Service Commission that conducts the interviews as provided under the Universities Act,” he said.

The re-advertisement sparked criticism from the University Academic Staff Union. Union officials accused the university leadership of undermining transparency and wasting public resources.

The chapter chairman, Richard Bosire, said the re-advertisement was unnecessary and risked eroding confidence in the institution’s governance.

And now, as the fresh process nears completion, the next VC will inherit one of the most severe financial crises in the history of the oldest public university

Financial records show the institution is burdened with a debt of Sh16.99 billion, the highest among the public universities. It owes Sh5.299 billion in unremitted Pay As You Earn taxes to the Kenya Revenue Authority.

It also owes Sh189 million to the National Social Security Fund and Sh159 million in housing levy deductions. Another Sh8.833 billion remains unpaid in pension, gratuity and insurance obligations.

Suppliers are owed Sh698 million, while banks are owed Sh29 million.

The university has also failed to remit Sh43 million in Sacco deductions and owes Sh14 million to part-time lecturers.