We acted within our mandate as UoN council, Anangwe team says

The University of Nairobi (UoN) Council has dispelled what it describes as “false narratives” surrounding its performance, role in leadership appointments, and its Chairperson’s conduct.

Responding to the criticism, the Council maintains that it has operated within the law and university charter.

“The Chairperson of the Council has not acted outside the law and regulations and the persistent allegations are misplaced and devoid of relevant information,” reads the statement.

The Council, led by chairman Prof Amukowa Anangwe, Carren Omwenga and Ahmed Abdullahi as members’ points to several reforms and accomplishments, including the clearance of staff promotion backlogs, minimization of ethnicity in recruitment, and approval of the University’s 2024–2027 Strategic Plan.

“The mindsets of staff have changed from a business-as-usual mentality… the influence of corrupt cartels in procurement has been curtailed,” the Council added, citing transformation efforts.

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Still, the Council acknowledged the magnitude of financial distress affecting the university.

With a government capitation covering only 32 percent of the university’s budget and only 66 percent of payroll costs, university shoulders nearly 30 percent of the public universities’ collective Sh 72 billion debt.

On Friday, Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr Beatrice Inyangala criticized Prof. Anangwe, accusing him of overstepping his mandate by issuing unauthorized appointment letters for top university positions.

In a statement Dr. Inyangala dismissed the recent appointments of Prof Bitange Ndemo as Vice-Chancellor and Prof. Francis Mulaa as acting Vice-Chancellor and substantive Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs), saying the decisions were never approved by the university’s governing council.

“The Principal Secretary, State Department for Higher Education sits on the University of Nairobi Council. We can therefore firmly confirm that no Council meeting was ever convened to discuss and make decisions on appointments at the University of Nairobi,” Inyangala stated.

She described Prof. Anangwe’s actions as a serious breach of procedure and a violation of the Universities Act, 2012, noting that only the full Council has the authority to make such appointments.

“The actions of Prof. Anangwe are not only irregular but constitute a blatant usurpation of powers reserved for the full Council. These egregious violations of the law shall not be condoned and will form the basis for appropriate action in due course,” she said.

Dr. Inyangala stressed that the ministry had neither been consulted nor informed of any such process and declared the appointments as lacking legal basis.

“The so-called appointments are purported and therefore hold no legal standing,” she said.

The Ministry reaffirmed that Prof Jesang Hutchinson remains the acting Vice-Chancellor and urged all stakeholders to strictly follow the legal and governance frameworks in the management of public universities.

The Council emphasized that it followed due legal process in the appointments, referencing Section 35(1)(a)(v) of the Universities Act, which mandates the Council to appoint Vice Chancellors in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary.

“Consultation does not mean concurrence,” the Council noted, citing case law to argue it acted lawfully even without the Cabinet Secretary’s approval.

Since May 2023, when the current University Council was appointed, it has faced a barrage of criticism over alleged mismanagement, unilateral decision-making, and flawed recruitment processes for top leadership.

The wrangles come at a time when the university is grappling with deep financial challenges, unresolved court battles, and a leadership vacuum following the controversial appointment—and subsequent rejection—of Prof Elijah Bitange Ndemo as Vice Chancellor.

The controversies reached fever pitch after the Public Service Commission forwarded the names of Prof Ndemo and Prof Francis Jackim Mulaa for appointment as Vice Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), respectively—appointments the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education, is reported to have obstructed.

Prof Ndemo, who had expressed interest and was reportedly engaged throughout the process, stunned the university community when he rejected the appointment via a LinkedIn post. The Council, however, insists he has yet to communicate this formally.

The Council says the Cabinet Secretary declined to approve a scheduled meeting to finalize the appointments, and government-linked Council members then withdrew—sabotaging the meeting due to lack of quorum.

Consequently, the Chair invoked a resolution from the Council’s 145th meeting, allowing her to act on its behalf pending ratification.

Despite this, Prof. Ndemo’s rejection came as a shock.

“He had requested me to give him the letter of appointment… he was fully aware of what was going on. What made him change his mind suddenly in the wee hours of the night is up to him to tell Kenyans,” the Chairperson Prof Anangwe stated.

To prevent a leadership vacuum, Prof. Mulaa was appointed in an acting capacity for six months.

The Council criticized political interference in what it termed as “reactionary forces” fighting reforms through the courts and public misinformation.

“Outside actors meddling in the affairs of the University of Nairobi for selfish interests should stop,” the Council urged.

It called on the Cabinet Secretary to provide leadership by protecting institutional independence and following the law.

“The Council should be left to function without hindrance, intimidation and unlawful interference in order to legally operate in accordance with the Universities Act, and the University of Nairobi Charter, 2013, and to serve the purpose for which it was created to be at the helm of the governance structure of the University of Nairobi,” he stated.

The Council also hinted that if its term is to end prematurely (ahead of May 2026), it should be through a “negotiated exit strategy” to avoid further litigation.

“This should include the settlement of several court cases against the illegal revocation of the Council members by the Cabinet Secretary,” stated Anangwe.