MPs Give Education Ministry Seven Days to Resolve UoN Crisis.
The National Assembly Education Committee has given the Ministry of Education a strict deadline of seven days to submit a detailed report on the ongoing governance crisis at the University of Nairobi (UoN).
The committee criticized the ministry for its sluggish response to the issue and warned that continued inaction could lead to a more severe institutional breakdown.
During the committee session, members expressed concerns that the university council was overstepping its mandate, interfering with the management, and disrupting operations at Kenya’s premier institution. They emphasized the urgent need for intervention to restore normalcy.
Lawmakers, meeting under the education oversight committee, cautioned that without swift action, UoN could face the same fate as Moi University, which struggled with similar governance challenges before its decline.
Kisii Woman Representative, Jerusha Momanyi, who chaired the session, stated that the ministry’s reluctance to act would only worsen the crisis.
She insisted that the committee would not allow UoN to follow the same path as other failing institutions and called for immediate measures to prevent further deterioration.
The directive followed a demand from the Universities Academic Staff Union (UoN chapter) for the removal of the university council chair, Professor Amukowa Anangwe.
The union accused him of exceeding his authority and taking over management functions, an issue that has exacerbated tensions within the institution.
MPs Demand Ministerial Accountability
Legislators voiced their concerns over the council’s encroachment on administrative matters, arguing that it was operating more like an executive body rather than an oversight entity.
They pressed the Principal Secretary for Higher Education to submit a comprehensive report on the university’s governance issues.
Some MPs went further, insisting that Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Ogamba, should personally appear before the committee to provide a detailed explanation of the ministry’s plan to resolve the crisis.
Lugari MP, Nabii Nabwire, likened the situation to a “silent coup” at the university, asserting that the council had essentially taken over executive functions.
The legislators demanded a structured approach to restoring governance and ensuring that proper administrative procedures were followed.
Responding to the lawmakers, Principal Secretary for Higher Education, Beatrice Inyangala, acknowledged the difficulties facing public universities, particularly governance and financial constraints.
She detailed the ministry’s three-pronged strategy to stabilize the sector, which included improving governance structures, cutting operational costs, and expanding funding sources.
As part of these reforms, she announced that the government would be advertising vacant university council positions in the coming week to attract skilled leadership capable of driving institutional stability and strategic growth.
Concerns Over Prolonged Acting Positions
Despite the ministry’s assurances, MPs remained unconvinced, pointing out that several key leadership roles at UoN remained in an acting capacity for extended periods.
Kitutu Masaba MP, Clive Gisairo, highlighted that this issue was not unique to UoN, citing similar delays in appointments at the Open University of Kenya. He argued that such prolonged interim leadership created instability and inefficiencies in university administration.
Further complicating the situation, Inyangala revealed that severe budget cuts in the 2024-2025 financial year had drastically affected the State Department for Higher Education. She noted that Sh10 billion had been slashed from the department’s funding, worsening an already dire financial situation.
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Additionally, she pointed out that operational budgets had been significantly reduced, with funding dropping from Sh300 million to Sh128 million. This, she stated, had severely hindered the ministry’s ability to execute its oversight and coordination functions effectively.
With mounting pressure from lawmakers and university staff, the Ministry of Education now faces a critical test in addressing the University of Nairobi’s governance crisis before it escalates further.
MPs Give Education Ministry Seven Days to Resolve UoN Crisis.
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