Tables Turn at UoN as Anangwe’s Short-Lived Reign Ends After Kiama’s Ousting.
Prof. Amukowa Anangwe’s tenure as chair of the University of Nairobi (UoN) Council has come to an abrupt end after 21 months, following a period of internal conflicts and governance challenges.
His dismissal last Friday by Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba underscores persistent leadership instability at Kenya’s leading university.
Prof. Anangwe was appointed on May 23, 2023, through a special gazette notice issued by then CS for Education, Ezekiel Machogu.
His appointment, alongside Ahmed Sheikh Abdullai, Dr. Darmain ole Warkae, Caren Kerubo Omwenga, and Dr. Sally Ngeringwony Toroitich, came after the dissolution of the previous council, which had been in office for only ten months under the leadership of Prof. Miriam Were.
Fallout with Former Vice Chancellor Kiama
His dismissal occurred just five months after the council he chaired removed Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof. Stephen Kiama from office, an event that had been preceded by numerous disagreements over leadership and management styles.
The discord between the two began almost immediately after the council was constituted. Within two months, the council controversially announced that Prof. Kiama had taken a six-month leave, though he returned after only a month.
Despite Prof. Anangwe’s insistence that the VC complete his leave, Prof. Kiama remained in office.
After several failed attempts to oust Prof. Kiama, the council finally removed him from office on September 27, 2024.
A letter signed by Prof. Anangwe informed the university community that Prof. Kiama was no longer the VC and had also ceased being a staff member of the institution. Since then, Prof. Margaret Hutchinson has been serving as the acting VC.
Implications for UoN Leadership Transition
Prof. Anangwe’s dismissal comes at a critical juncture, as the recruitment process for the next VC is underway. With his departure, he will not participate in the selection process, which is being handled by the Public Service Commission.
The commission has already advertised the position and will submit the top three candidates to the council for final appointment.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) has remained vocal about governance issues at UoN. The union previously sought legal action to dissolve the council, arguing that CS Machogu had appointed it unlawfully.
While the court acknowledged that the appointment had exceeded the CS’s legal authority under the Universities Act, it declined to nullify it due to the late filing of the case and the potential disruptions its ruling could cause. Uasu has since appealed the decision.
On Monday, the union intensified its campaign by demanding the immediate dissolution of the entire council.
Dr. Richard Bosire, chair of the Uasu chapter at UoN, expressed that CS Ogamba must act swiftly to remove the remaining members and appoint a new team dedicated to serving public interests rather than exploiting university resources.
University’s Defense Against Allegations
The union has accused Prof. Anangwe of meddling in the university’s management, though he has not responded to the allegations. Last week, John Orindi, UoN’s Director of Corporate Affairs, dismissed these claims, clarifying that governance roles at the university are legally defined and distinct.
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He explained that Section 18(9) of the university’s regulations authorizes the chair of the council to communicate council resolutions for implementation.
According to Orindi, this does not interfere with the VC’s authority as the CEO and head of academic affairs. Despite these clarifications, concerns about governance remain, leaving the university’s leadership future uncertain.
Tables Turn at UoN as Anangwe’s Short-Lived Reign Ends After Kiama’s Ousting
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