A fresh wave of uncertainty has hit the University of Nairobi after the Ministry of Education distanced itself from the university council’s recent attempt to install a new vice-chancellor.
On Thursday, the university’s governing council named former ICT Principal Secretary and current ambassador to Belgium, Dr. Bitange Ndemo, as the new vice-chancellor a move that was meant to bring stability after months of interim leadership under Prof. Jesang Hutchinson. But almost immediately, cracks began to show.
With Dr. Ndemo still posted in Brussels, the council, chaired by Prof. Amkowa Anangwe, appointed Prof. Francis Jackim Mulaa to serve in an acting capacity for six months. Prof. Mulaa was also named Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs), according to a letter Prof. Anangwe said had been sent to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.
However, the plan unraveled swiftly. Dr. Ndemo publicly declined the appointment, raising concerns over irregularities in how the process was handled. His withdrawal has cast doubt not only on the council’s decision-making process but also on the broader governance of one of Kenya’s most prominent universities.
The Ministry of Education’s disavowal of the appointment has further deepened the leadership crisis, fueling questions over transparency, protocol, and the future direction of the institution.
