Observe your lane, CS Ogamba tells newly inaugurated UoN Council

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba at UoN on August 5 ,2025/LEAH MUKANGAI

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has urged the newly appointed University of Nairobi council to work together, watch their boundaries, and avoid micromanaging the varsity’s management team.

Ogamba, who spoke Tuesday during the inauguration of the council chaired by Prof. Chacha Nyagoiti Chacha, emphasized the importance of teamwork and clear role definitions for the success of the institution.

He asked the team to avoid the infighting and overreach experienced by the disbanded council.

“Just do your job and don’t micromanage the management and the staff of the university as we saw with the previous team that purported to discipline staff and make such decisions,” he said.

The CS also said that lack of consultation, abrogation of responsibilities that did not belong to them, and dysfunction made the defunct council ineffective and sustained the bad publicity that institution had gotten over the years, hampering the crucial partnerships it badly needed to execute its mandates.

“Consult as widely as possible, including with the office of the attorney general, to get a sound legal position before taking decisions,” he said, decrying that the university is having up to 200 court cases draining its resources.

“Your first assignment is to examine the cases and see how to handle them, including compromises that could ease the burden off the university and the public so that it is back to doing its job,” he said.

University of Nairobi council chairperson Prof. Chacha Nyaigotti, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and Higher Education principal secretary Beatrice Inyagala during the inauguration of the University of Nairobi Council at the main campus on August 5, 2025 /LEAH MUKANGAI

The CS, who was accompanied by Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala, also urged the team to adhere to the laws to avoid unnecessary legal fights in court.

The new Council was officially announced on July 26, 2025, following a gazette notice dated July 25, 2025.

Nyaigotti is a distinguished Kenyan playwright and educationist.

He is joined by council members John Kakonge, Samuel Njuguna Kimani, Jonathan Ltipalei Lodompui, and Mary Amuyunzu.

This appointment follows the revocation of the previous council members, including Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, who was dismissed as chairperson on February 21, 2025, amid governance concerns.

The new council's mandate includes addressing ongoing legal challenges, improving governance, and restoring the university's reputation.