CS Machogu Orders End to UoN Leadership Wrangles
The Ministry of Education has mandated the two conflicting factions at the University of Nairobi (UoN) to cease their disputes and collaborate effectively.
This directive comes after prolonged leadership clashes between Vice Chancellor Prof. Stephen Kiama and the University Council, which has repeatedly attempted to place Kiama on compulsory leave.
Ezekiel Machogu, the Education Cabinet Secretary, voiced his concerns during a dinner that the UoN Chancellor organized.
Machogu criticized the ongoing strife, stating it had crossed a line and could potentially harm the university.
He emphasized that council members, appointed by him, should not pursue personal agendas but rather work towards the university’s betterment.
Machogu condemned the conflicts as “silly” and a threat to university reforms and development.
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He admonished some University Council members for their self-serving actions, which he deemed detrimental to the institution’s interests.
At the 100-year celebration of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Machogu had already warned the UoN leadership about the negative impact of their disputes.
He confirmed that he had intervened, insisting that the University Council and the Vice Chancellor must cooperate to achieve the university’s goals.
The disputes have intensified over the past two weeks, threatening to split the university into factions supporting either the Vice-Chancellor or the University Council.
This leadership conflict originates from the Council’s repeated attempts to place Prof. Kiama on compulsory leave, a directive issued three times within six months.
Amukowa Anangwe, the Chairman of the UoN Council, formally decided to send the Vice-Chancellor on leave on April 19.
However, Prof. Kiama dismissed the council’s directive asserting his right to choose his leave periods and claiming no formal council meeting ratified the decision.
Kiama argued that some communications taken to be council resolutions were just individual opinions and clarified that the Vice Chancellor’s office serves as the council secretary, who communicates official resolutions.
January 2025 marks the end of Kiama’s tenure.
Uasu Calls for Action
On Tuesday, the university’s academic staff also addressed the leadership crisis, calling for government intervention.
The chairman of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UoN chapter), Richard Bosire, urged Machogu to take decisive action and unite the conflicting parties.
Bosire emphasized the need for the government’s intelligence and security systems to identify and resolve the root cause of the crisis, warning that the ongoing disputes were damaging the UoN’s reputation.
By reinforcing cooperation between the Vice Chancellor and the University Council, the Ministry of Education aims to restore stability and focus on the university’s developmental goals.
Officials from the UoN Chapter expressed concerns about the conflict, describing it as shameful, disruptive, and damaging to the university’s reputation.
They urged President Ruto and Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu to resolve the issues between the University Council and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Stephen Kiama, emphasizing that the institution’s image was suffering as a result.
The UoN Chapter Secretary, Dr. Maloba Wekesa, stated that although Uasu does not intend to exacerbate the ongoing internal conflicts, it is their responsibility as a social partner to call for order among all parties involved.
He highlighted that it is not beneficial for their members to have continuous squabbles featured in national headlines.
The union accused the council’s chair, Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, of failing to finalize negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement with the lecturers and halting all internal staff promotions. Furthermore, the union has taken legal action against the council’s legitimacy.
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In March, the High Court ruled that the CS Machogu had exceeded his authority in appointing the council but did not remove it from office, citing potential disruptions to the university’s operations. Uasu has since appealed this ruling.
The council’s ongoing conflict with Prof. Kiama includes multiple instances of attempting to send him on leave, which he has ignored. Despite the tensions, Prof. Kiama attended a meeting at State House yesterday.
CS Machogu Orders End to UoN Leadership Wrangles
