Former PS and renowned scholar Elijah Bitange Ndemo is the new University of Nairobi Vice Chancellor.
Prof Ndemo's appointment was confirmed by a letter, dated May 2, 2025, and signed by the university's council chairperson Prof Amukowa Anangwe.
Ndemo, who served as ICT Permanent Secretary, is currently on diplomatic assignment in Brussels. He takes over from Prof Margaret Hutchinson, who had been holding the office in an acting capacity.
Prof Francis Mulaa, the newly named Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, will serve act as VC until Prof Ndemo returns from Brussel, within the next six months, and formally takes office.
In the letter, also copied to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, Anangwe said Prof Ndemo is currently wrapping up his diplomatic assignment as Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium.
"Prof Elijah Bitange Ndemo is in the process of handing over his current position as Kenya's Ambassador to Belgium in Brussels before he relocates to Kenya," said Anangwe.
"This is in exercise of the Council authority granted to the undersigned as per the resolution under Minute No. 17 (ii) and (iii) of the 145th meeting of the Council," the memo reads.
"Your acting appointments shall therefore cease on the date Prof Ndemo assumes office as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the UON," part of the statement reads, about Prof Mulaa.
Through the appointments, the statement states, the university council sought to prevent a leadership vacuum after the term of Prof Hutchinson, who had been the acting VC, ends.
The memo says Mulaa’s acting term shall end immediately Ndemo officially assumes office as VC. Even then, the Council has mandated Mulaa to execute the responsibilities and authority of the VC per the Universities Act, 2012, the University of Nairobi Charter, 2013, and all applicable government policies and circulars.
Prof Mulaa is a respected academic in the Faculty of Science and Technology.
