The Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, Professor Margaret Hutchinson, has reassured Kenyans that the institution remains strong and focused despite current leadership and financial challenges.
Speaking during an official update on May 21, 2025, Prof. Hutchinson dismissed claims that the university is failing, calling them misleading and unfounded.
“I want to assure all our stakeholders that despite the ongoing challenges, we remain strong, focused, and resilient,” she said. “The University of Nairobi is fully operational and on track to becoming a globally competitive institution that transforms society.”
Prof. Hutchinson urged the university community to stay calm and united during the ongoing transition and not be distracted by what she termed as “noise” intended to disrupt progress.
She pledged to steer the university toward emerging areas of study such as Artificial Intelligence by establishing the Nairobi School of AI. She also committed to strengthening a research culture through a proposed regional Institute for Advanced Health Research, enhancing innovation and commercialization efforts through industry partnerships, and digitizing university operations.
She appealed for stronger collaboration with stakeholders to address long-standing challenges in funding, governance, and legal frameworks that threaten the institution’s sustainability.
Meanwhile, the Public Service Commission (PSC) on May 16, 2025, called for an urgent resolution to the leadership crisis that has rocked the University of Nairobi following confusion over the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor.
The row began after Prof. Bitange Ndemo, who had been appointed as VC by the university council, suddenly declined the position. The Ministry of Education later disowned the appointment, saying it was not consulted.
In a statement issued on May 16, PSC Vice Chairperson Mary Kimonye said the Commission had done its job by conducting a transparent recruitment process and forwarding a list of top candidates to the university’s council and the Cabinet Secretary for Education, as required by law.
“The deadlock at the University of Nairobi regarding the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor is regrettable and not in the best interest of the country,” Kimonye said. She warned that the leadership crisis could disrupt the delivery of services and academic programs at one of Kenya’s top institutions.
While similar leadership transitions in other public universities have proceeded smoothly, Kimonye said UoN remains the only one with such serious disputes, raising fears about political interference.
She urged all involved parties to resolve the matter urgently and lawfully to protect the university’s image and stability.
On May 14, the University of Nairobi Council issued a detailed statement defending its decisions and rejecting accusations of illegal conduct.
Led by Chairperson Prof. Amukowa Anangwe and supported by members Carren Omwenga and Ahmed Abdullahi, the Council insisted that it had followed the law in appointing Prof. Ndemo as VC and Prof. Francis Mulaa as Acting VC and Deputy VC for Academic Affairs.
“The Council Chairperson acted within the law and university regulations. Allegations to the contrary are baseless,” they stated.
The Council highlighted several reforms it had implemented, including reducing ethnic bias in hiring, clearing promotion backlogs, and adopting the 2024–2027 Strategic Plan. However, it also acknowledged a severe financial strain, revealing that the government only funds 32% of the university’s budget and 66% of its payroll.
The Ministry of Education, through Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, dismissed the Council’s actions as unlawful. She accused the Council Chair of making appointments without formal approval from the full Council and said no proper meeting had been held.
“These actions are irregular and violate university governance structures,” Dr. Inyangala said. “They have no legal standing.” She maintained that Prof. Jesang Hutchinson remains the university’s Acting Vice Chancellor.
The Ministry emphasized that it was not involved in the appointment process and said future decisions must follow due process.