• In a circular to all members of staff and students dated August 15, Prof Waceke Wanjohi said any communication and instructions from Wanaina are null and void.
• The battle between Wanaina and the new university council intensified after the VC rejected efforts by authorities to hive off a huge chunk of the university land.
Image: FILE
The Kenyatta University council has sacked the embattled Vice Chancellor Paul Wainaina.
In a circular to all members of staff and students dated August 15, Prof Waceke Wanjohi said any communication and instructions from Wanaina are null and void.
“Further to earlier communication from the Kenyatta University council. I write to inform you that the council vide letter to Prof Wanaina, resolved to summarily dismiss him from service with effect from August 5,” Wanjohi said in a memo referenced KU/VC/CRLS/C29/VOL 4.
He requested students and staff to remain focused and ensure the university continues to run smoothly without any disruption.
The battle between Wanaina and the new university council, which is yet to be formally appointed by Education CS George Magoha, intensified after the VC vehemently rejected efforts by authorities to hive off a huge chunk of the university land.
Following the tussle, Prof Crispus Kiamba sacked the VC on July 12.
Wainaina, however, got temporary reprieve after a labour court reinstated him on July 27.
In his ruling, justice Jacob Gakeri issued orders suspending the decision to sack him pending the hearing and determination of the case.
The judge had directed him to serve all parties and appear in court on Thursday for a hearing.
“The court be pleased to issue a temporary order suspending the implementation of the decision in the letter dated July 12 by Prof Kiamba suspending, terminating the petitioner from office,” the order reads.
Through lawyer Manwa Hosea, Wainaina claimed that on July 4 and 7, head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua unconstitutionally, without any legal authority and over his mandate issued orders directing him to surrender a title deed for the university.
Kinyua wrote to Wainaina unilaterally ordering him to surrender the said parcel of land and he has since been placed under immense pressure to honour the said illegal directives, that are outside his mandate and terms of employment.
“He is on the verge of being illegally terminated by Kinyua and CS Magoha and his replacement is intended to enable the holders of the Offices of the President, the Head of Public Service and the CS Education to unconstitutionally and unlawfully alienate and expropriate the university land,” court papers said.
Wainaina claimed Kinyua and Magoha overstepped their mandate to purport to suspend the vice chancellor, which is a prerogative reserved under the law for the university council.
The VC said an injustice has been perpetuated upon him and the court should remedy it.
The said university land is to be excised as follows 30 acres to WHO, 10 acres to Africa Centre for Disease Control and prevention, 180 acres to KU Teaching Referral and Research Hospital and 190 acres to facilitate resolution of the Kamae settlement scheme.
Wanaina claimed the management of KU has been unconstitutionally and unlawfully interfered with by the President, Kinyua and CS Magoha, in pursuit of an attempt to annex, alienate and expropriate the university land.
“The head of public service has no power to direct me or Kenyatta University Council in the manner of conduct of the affair of KU including but not limited to ownership and use of the university lands,” he said.
Wainaina was replaced by Wanjohi.
The university also has a new council chaired by Prof Crispus Kiamba, with Jane Wamoko, Carilus Odumbe, Major General (Rtd) Bashir Yussuf, Andrew Nyanchoga and Alice Muita as members.
The changes were made to make it possible for the transfer of the land in question to be effected.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)