The controversy surrounding the leadership of the University of Nairobi deepened after the Ministry of Education distanced itself from the recent appointment of the new vice-chancellor.
On Thursday, the university Council announced the appointment of former ICT Principal Secretary Bitange Ndemo as the substantive VC. He was to take over from Prof Jesang Hutchinson who has been acting in the office.
However, since Prof Ndemo is still on his diplomatic assignment in Brussels as Kenya's ambassador to Belgium, the Council, led by Prof Amkowa Anangwe, announced Prof Francis Jackim Mulaa, would hold fort for six months before Ndemo returns to take over.
In a letter that Prof Anangwe said had been copied to Education CS Julius Ogamba, Prof Mulaa had also been appointed the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs).
However, moments after the annoncement was made, Prof Ndemo declined his appointment citing allged irregularities in the process, further compounding an already bad situation at the university that has been enveloped in leadership turmoil.
And on Friday, May 9, the Ministry of Education waded into the controversy, dismissing Prof Mulaa's appointment as the acting VC and the substantive DVC for Academic Affairs.
Ogamba, in a statement read on his behalf by Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala, declared that he only recognises Prof Hutchinson as supremo of the premier university, even though in an acting capacity.
Inyangala said the move by the university Council to announce Mulaa as the acting VC was out of order. Mulaa was to act as VC for six months as they awaited for Prof Ndemo's return and take over after concluding his diplomatic assignment.
The PS said the Ministry was not consulted when Mulaa was appointed warning of impending consequences to the university’s Council.
“Section 35(1)(a)(v) of the Universities Act, 2012 provides that in the case of a public university, the Council shall appoint the Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellors in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary, after a competitive process conducted by the Public Service Commission,” Inyangala said.
She added: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry of Education confirms that there were no consultations between the University of Nairobi Council and the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education on any of the purported appointments by the chairperson of Council.”
As such, Inyangala said, Prof Ayub Gitau remains the DVC for Academic Affairs. Mulaa remains the DVC for Research, Innovation and Enterprise, she said.
Other confirmed DVCs were John Demesi Mande (Human Resource and Administration) and Jackson Maalu (Finance, Planning and Development).
Prof Ndemo referred to the process of his appointment as unprocedural as he sought to dissociate himself from the role.
"The announcement triggered a flood of congratulatory messages on social media. However, I dissociate myself from this unprocedural process and have withdrawn my candidacy for the position," his statement read in part.
Citing inconsistencies in his appointment, Ndemo acknowledged receiving the appointment letter from Prof Anangwe, even as he sought confirmation on whether the appointment had received the legally required concurrence from the Cabinet Secretary for Education.
Anangwe reportedly assured him that the concurrence had been sought and the necessary documents submitted.
According to Ndemo, Anangwe had already issued a letter to Prof Mulaa to act as the VC until he is released from his current ambassadorial position.
Prof Ndemo maintained that due process was not been followed and thus immediately withdrew his candidature.
