This archive report was first published on 4 November 2019.
On November 4, 2019, the University of Nairobi council rejected Prof Peter Mbithi's bid for automatic reappointment as Vice-Chancellor for a second term. This decision led to Prof Mbithi being sent on leave starting July 6, allowing for an effective appointment process of a new vice-chancellor.
According to highly placed sources, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i is pushing for the appointment of acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Isaac Mbeche. Prof Mbeche was appointed the acting Vice-Chancellor in July after the UoN council rejected Prof Mbithi's bid for reappointment.
Prof Mbeche, a Kisii, was previously acting deputy vice-chancellor in charge of finance, planning and development department. Insiders claim that Dr Matiang'i has held several strategy meetings with Kisii professionals in Nairobi's Karen area to find the best way of ensuring Prof Mbeche 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. In the newly advertised position for UoN Vice-Chancellor, the retirement age was changed from 70 years to 75 years to accommodate Prof Mbeche, who is 69 years old.
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.
