UoN leadership deepens as Ministry dismisses VC changes

In a terse statement to newsrooms on May 9, 2025, Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr Beatrice Inyangala, who also sits on the University Council, stated that no leadership changes had been approved.

Dr Inyangala disowned recent appointments by Professor Anangwe, which named Professor Francis Jackim Mulaa as both Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) and Acting Vice-Chancellor.

In a letter dated May 5, 2025, Anangwe had stated that the Council had appointed Mulaa — currently the DVC for Research, Innovation and Enterprise — as acting Vice-Chancellor for six months.

The appointment was to allow Professor Bitange Ndemo, who has been appointed as the substantive VC, to conclude his diplomatic assignment in Belgium.

The net effect of Anangwe’s letter was to position Mulaa to succeed Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Jesang Hutchinson during the transition period.

However, Dr Inyangala termed the move unprocedural and unlawful, warning of possible action over what she called a "clear usurpation" of the University Council’s authority.

She clarified that no consultations had taken place with the Cabinet Secretary for Education, as required under Section 35(1)(a)(v) of the Universities Act, 2012.

The law mandates that Vice-Chancellors and Deputy Vice-Chancellors of public universities must be appointed in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary and through a competitive process conducted by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

“No Council meeting was ever convened to discuss and make decisions on appointments at the University of Nairobi,” the statement read, adding that as a Council member, the Principal Secretary could firmly confirm this.

The Ministry described the appointment letters as "contra-statute" and in violation of legal procedures, adding that they would “form the basis for appropriate action in due course.”

To address the leadership vacuum, the Ministry reaffirmed that acting appointments remain in place until a proper recruitment process is completed.

These include: Vice-Chancellor – Prof. Jesang Hutchinson, DVC, Academic Affairs – Prof. Ayub Gitau, DVC, Research, Innovation and Enterprise – Prof. Francis Mulaa, DVC, Human Resource and Administration – Prof. John Demesi Mande and DVC, Finance, Planning and Development – Prof. Jackson Maalu.

Dr Inyangala reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring universities are run in accordance with the law and sound corporate governance, stressing that their leadership must be “exemplary,” given their role in shaping Kenya’s future workforce.

Earlier, Professor Ndemo, the former ICT Principal Secretary and Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium, withdrew his candidacy, citing procedural concerns.

In a public statement shared on his LinkedIn account, the Professor of Entrepreneurship revealed that he had been one of five shortlisted candidates and later one of three finalists following interviews conducted on March 21, 2025.

He said he subsequently received a letter of appointment dated May 5, 2025, from Professor Anangwe, naming him as the next Vice-Chancellor.

“I dissociate myself from this unprocedural process and have withdrawn my candidacy for the position. In light of these circumstances, I have formally withdrawn my candidacy for the position of Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nairobi,” Ndemo said.