Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has distanced the Ministry of Education from the controversial appointment of Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium, Prof. Bitange Ndemo, as the new Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi (UoN), saying due process was not followed.
Through a notice issued on Friday, Principal Secretary for Higher Education Beatrice Muganda Inyangala said the Ministry was not consulted on any appointments concerning the university, as is required by law. She stated that no formal council meeting was convened to discuss or approve the decision.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry of Education confirms that there were no consultations between the University of Nairobi and the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education, on any of the purported appointments by the chairperson of the council,” said PS Inyangala.
She emphasized that, as a member of the university council, she would have been aware of any meeting or decision regarding the appointment.
“There was no meeting convened to discuss and make a decision on the appointment of the Vice Chancellor,” she added.
The PS further stated that the move by the university council violates the Universities Act and will not be tolerated. She confirmed that the current Vice Chancellor remains Prof. Margaret Jesang Hutchinson.
Earlier, the University Council had announced that Prof. Ndemo would take over as Vice Chancellor after completing his diplomatic tour in Belgium.
In a letter dated May 5, 2025, the Council appointed Prof. Francis Jackim Mulaa as Acting VC for six months to allow for the transition.
However, Prof. Ndemo has rejected the appointment, citing irregularities in the process.
“I wish to make it unequivocally clear that I dissociate myself from this unprocedural process. In light of these circumstances, I have formally withdrawn my candidacy for the position of Vice Chancellor at the University of Nairobi,” he said in a statement.
Prof. Ndemo revealed that after receiving his appointment letter, he contacted Council Chairperson Prof. Amukowa Anangwe to confirm if the Ministry had approved the decision.
He was reportedly assured that all legal requirements had been met. Despite receiving congratulations on social media, Ndemo insisted that due process had not been followed.
Prof. Anangwe defended the appointment in a memo copied to Education CS Ogamba, citing a prior council resolution.
However, the Ministry maintains that any such move without its involvement is null and void and will lead to appropriate action.
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