This archive report was first published on 4 January 2020.
January 4, 2020
The University of Nairobi council's decision to appoint Prof Stephen Kiama as the new Vice Chancellor has sparked controversy, with many questioning the process.
According to sources, the council, led by Prof Julia Ojiambo, has met twice to discuss the names forwarded by the Public Service Commission (PSC), chaired by Stephen Kirogo.
However, the council decided to disregard the PSC's list and rank the candidates themselves, with Prof Kiama emerging as the top choice.
Prof Ojiambo's decision has been met with resistance from some council members, who accuse her of being arrogant and having a personal agenda.
One of the reasons cited for Prof Ojiambo's preference for Prof Kiama is that the council extended the Vice Chancellor's retirement age from 70 to 75 years, just days before the position was advertised.
Prof Kiama's appointment is also seen as a way to replace the current acting Vice Chancellor, Prof Isaac Mbeche, whose term has expired.
Prof Mbeche's name was not among the top three candidates forwarded to the Ministry of Education for appointment by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The council's decision has been met with criticism from the Ministry of Education, with Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha reportedly having the original PSC ranking list, which the PSC has refused to follow.
The University of Nairobi Amendment Act 2018 prohibits the council from being involved in the process of appointing the Vice Chancellor.
Former solicitor general Michuki Muchemi resigned as a member of the council after discovering that Prof Ojiambo's actions were driven by personal ego rather than the institution's interests.
