This archive report was first published on 1 November 2019.
Published on November 1, 2019, a plot by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to appoint Prof Isaac Mbeche as the next Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi has been exposed.
Prof Mbeche was appointed acting Vice-Chancellor in July after the UoN council rejected Prof Peter Mbithi's bid for automatic reappointment as VC for a second term.
According to highly placed sources, Dr Matiang'i is pushing for Prof Mbeche's appointment, citing that the council chair, Prof Julia Ojiambo, reassured the university community that the council is in charge and there is no cause for alarm.
However, a section of council members allied to Deputy President William Ruto have leaked the information to the number two in command, who does not see eye to eye with Matiang'i.
It is alleged that Dr Matiang'i held several strategy meetings with Kisii professionals in Nairobi's Karen area to find the best way of ensuring Prof Mbeche, a Kisii, gets the position.
One of the schemes was to remove the cap stipulating a public university vice-chancellor should retire at the age of 70 years. The retirement age was changed from 70 years to 75 years to accommodate Prof Mbeche, who is 69 years old.
