The leadership saga at Kenya's prestigious University of Nairobi (UoN) took a significant turn as the Public Service Commission (PSC) officially announced the Vice-Chancellor (VC) position as vacant. This decision follows the contentious removal of Professor Stephen Kiama, whose tenure ended under a cloud of controversy on September 27, 2024. This change is part of efforts to resolve the longstanding issues plaguing the university's administration.
Professor Kiama's removal was not without drama. The UoN Council, led by its Chairperson, Professor Amukowa Anangwe, decided his fate after a disciplinary process unveiled allegations of misconduct and insubordination, including a stark refusal to adhere to a mandated 60-day leave that was set in motion back in April 2024. As a temporary measure, Professor Margaret Hutchinson stepped into the role as acting VC in August 2024.
Challenges Beyond the Top Seat
The university is grappling with deeper systemic issues, reflected in a staggering 24 key management positions, spanning roles such as Deputy Vice-Chancellors and department directors, being held by acting officials for well beyond the legally permitted duration of six months. This state of flux has been attributed to previous administrative changes that saw essential positions abolished and new ones created without proper appointments.
Clouding the recruitment process are numerous legal entanglements. Recruitment attempts, particularly a 2023 initiative aiming to fill 24 positions, were thwarted by legal actions spearheaded by acting incumbents who challenged the process's legitimacy in court.
In a bid to bring stability, the PSC reopened applications for both the Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) roles, with a deadline looming on February 11, 2025. The future leaders of UoN will inherit five-year contracts accompanied by the significant task of implementing the university's ambitious 8-Point Transformation Strategy for 2025-2026. This strategy emphasizes key areas such as digital innovation, enhanced fundraising, and bolstering academic rigor.
The unfolding saga at UoN is not unique. Other Kenyan universities including Kenyatta University and Tharaka University are simultaneously navigating similar administrative challenges, as they too re-advertise for Deputy Vice-Chancellor openings. These institutions are all striving to put their houses in order amid a complex weave of administrative, legal, and structural hurdles.
8 Comments
Ashutosh Bilange April 2 2025
The whole drama at UoN reads like a broken soap opera, complete with power plays, secret meetings, and a VC who was practically exiled from the boardroom. Everybody knows the real reason behind the ‘misconduct’ charge – it’s just another chapter in the endless saga of political meddling that reeks of nepotism and backdoor deals. The PSC’s declaration of vacancy is just a fancy way of saying the university can’t get its act together, and the acting VC is merely a placeholder while the real puppeteers pull the strings. I’m sure the students are thrilled to watch this endless circus, and the faculty are left wondering whether this is a crisis or a comedy. Honestly, the whole thing is a reminder that higher education in Kenya has become a battlefield for ambition rather than a place of learning. Let’s see if the next VC can survive the storm or will be another pawn in this twisted game of thrones.
Kaushal Skngh April 4 2025
Honestly, this whole thing feels like a never‑ending admin nightmare.
Harshit Gupta April 4 2025
It’s funny how some folks love to paint this as a mere internal squabble, when in reality it’s a clear sign of how foreign influences try to dictate African institutions. Kenya’s universities deserve leadership that puts Kenyan values first, not outsiders with hidden agendas. The PSC’s move is a bold step toward reclaiming our academic sovereignty, and I’m all for a leader who’ll champion local talent and resist external pressures. Let’s not forget that the real enemies are the ones who siphon the university’s resources and replace them with their own interests. A strong, patriotic VC will turn this chaos into a renaissance for Kenyan education.
HarDeep Randhawa April 6 2025
Wow, so many layers to this mess, isn’t it? The acting VC, the legal battles, the endless acting appointments-each one adds another twist, another cliff‑hanger, another sigh of exasperation, and honestly, it’s exhausting, yet somehow fascinating, how the system keeps spiraling in this endless loop of indecision and red‑tape, you know?
Nivedita Shukla April 7 2025
In the corridors of power, where names echo and titles glitter, we often forget the human heart that beats behind each decree. The University of Nairobi, once a beacon of enlightenment, now stands as a mirror reflecting our collective anxieties. How many times have we watched capable scholars reduced to mere chess pieces, moved by forces unseen? The vacancy of the VC is not just an administrative footnote; it is a wound, a silent scream asking for authenticity. We can recite policies and strategies, but without a soul at the helm, the 8‑Point Transformation remains a dream, a phantom that haunts the night.
Consider the students, their futures hanging like fragile glass ornaments, waiting for steady hands to guide them. Consider the faculty, their research throttled by uncertainty, their passion dimming under endless acting appointments. Consider the nation, whose future is intertwined with the vigor of its institutions, yet is left waiting for a leader who can transform ambition into reality.
Leadership, in its purest form, is not about titles or tenure; it is about responsibility, humility, and vision. The drama that surrounds this vacancy is a symptom of deeper maladies-political interference, bureaucratic inertia, and a loss of purpose. If we truly desire change, we must look beyond the headlines and question the very foundations that allow such chaos to fester.
Will the next VC be a sentinel of progress, or another transient figure? The answer lies not in the PSC’s announcement alone, but in the collective will of those who believe in the university’s mission. Let us, as citizens, scholars, and dreamers, demand more than a name on a parchment; let us demand a guardian of knowledge, a steward of truth, and a champion for generations to come.
Rahul Chavhan April 8 2025
Hey folks, just a heads up – the deadline for the VC and DVC roles is coming up fast, so if anyone knows qualified folks, now’s the time to spread the word. This could be a real chance to bring fresh ideas and energy into the university. Let’s keep the momentum going and make sure the right people get the chance to lead.
Joseph Prakash April 9 2025
💡 the power of community can’t be overstated we all have a role in shaping the future of education 😃 let’s stay positive and keep sharing good vibes
Arun 3D Creators April 10 2025
the endless acting appointments are like shadows that never become light they obscure the path and keep us waiting for a true leader who will cut through the fog and guide the university toward real change