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Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium, Prof. Bitange Ndemo, has turned down his recent appointment as the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Nairobi (UoN), citing serious procedural flaws in how the decision was made.
The University Council had on Thursday announced that Prof. Ndemo would take over from Acting VC Prof. Margaret Jesang Hutchinson once his diplomatic tenure ends. To facilitate his transition, the Council, in a letter dated May 5, 2025, named Prof. Francis Jackim Mulaa as Acting VC for six months with immediate effect.
However, in a strongly worded statement released the same day, Prof. Ndemo disowned the appointment, saying the process was not conducted in accordance with the law and standard university procedures.
“I was one of five candidates shortlisted for the VC position and, following interviews on March 21, 2025, I emerged among the top three finalists,” Prof. Ndemo explained. “On May 5, I received a letter from the Council Chairman, Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, appointing me as Vice Chancellor. I sought confirmation that the Ministry of Education had approved the appointment, as required by law. While the Chairman assured me the documents had been submitted to the Ministry just an hour earlier, I was not convinced. Despite the congratulatory messages that flooded in, I wish to dissociate myself from this unprocedural appointment and hereby withdraw my candidacy.”
Prof. Ndemo’s public rejection prompted swift action from the Ministry of Education. In a statement released Friday, May 9, Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala declared the appointments made by the University Council invalid, citing lack of consultation and legal breaches.
According to Dr. Inyangala, the Ministry was not informed about the appointments of Prof. Mulaa as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) or as Acting Vice Chancellor. She reaffirmed that Prof. Margaret Jesang Hutchinson remains the current VC, while Prof. Ayub Gitau will continue as Deputy VC (Academic Affairs), Prof. Francis Mulaa as Deputy VC (Research, Innovation and Enterprise), Prof. John Demesi Mande as Deputy VC (Human Resource and Administration), and Prof. Jackson Maalu as Deputy VC (Finance, Planning and Development).
The Ministry emphasized that all such appointments must follow a competitive process overseen by the Public Service Commission and be made in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary for Education.
“No Council meeting was convened to discuss or approve these appointments prior to the issuance of the purported letters,” Dr. Inyangala noted. “This represents a serious breach of governance and a clear violation of the Universities Act, 2012.”
She concluded by warning that the Ministry would take appropriate action to safeguard the integrity of Kenya’s higher education institutions.
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