The Ministry of Education has overruled recent council appointments and reinstated Prof. Margaret Jesang Hutchinson as acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi (UoN), a day after she was seemingly replaced.
Prof. Jesang, whose acting term was due to expire next week, had been replaced by Prof. Francis Jackim Mulaa in a move announced by UoN Council Chairperson, Prof. Amukowa Anangwe.
However, the Ministry swiftly rejected the changes, declaring them null and void.
In a letter signed by the Principal Secretary for Higher Education, Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, the Ministry disowned both the appointment of Prof. Mulaa as acting VC and as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs), accusing the council of violating legal procedures.
“These appointments were made without consulting the Cabinet Secretary for Education, as stipulated by law. No formal council meeting was convened, and due process was blatantly ignored,” Dr. Inyangala said.
The Ministry invoked Section 35(1)(a)(v) of the Universities Act, 2012, which mandates consultation with the Education Cabinet Secretary and a competitive recruitment process overseen by the Public Service Commission for all top university leadership roles.
Consequently, the Ministry reaffirmed the status of current leadership: Prof. Jesang as acting VC, Prof. Ayub Gitau as DVC (Academic Affairs), Prof. Mulaa as DVC (Research, Innovation and Enterprise), Prof. John Demesi Mande as DVC (Human Resource and Administration), and Prof. Jackson Maalu as DVC (Finance, Planning and Development).
The standoff comes after Prof. Bitange Ndemo’s withdrawal from the Vice-Chancellor race.
In a LinkedIn statement, Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium said he had been shortlisted and emerged as one of the top three candidates after interviews on March 21.
Despite receiving an appointment letter from Prof. Anangwe on May 5, he said the appointment lacked the required approval from Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.
“I cannot be part of an irregular process. I have therefore withdrawn my candidacy,” Prof. Ndemo stated, adding that the appointment was not in line with the law.
The Ministry hinted at possible disciplinary action against those involved in what it termed “egregious violations” of university governance laws, stressing that university leadership must set the standard for integrity.
