The leadership crisis at the University of Nairobi (UoN) deepened this week after Professor Bitange Ndemo, Kenya's ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, withdrew his candidature for the post of vice chancellor (VC), citing what he called an "unprocedural process".
The Chairperson of the University Council announced Prof Ndemo's appointment on Wednesday, stating that he will take over from acting VC Prof Margaret Jesang Hutchinson once he completes his diplomatic assignment.
When the Nation contacted Prof Anangwe to confirm the authenticity of the letter, he did not respond. The university's corporate affairs office also did not confirm the appointment.
However, a senior source in the Ministry of Education told the Nation that Prof Anangwe could not make the announcement without the approval of the ministry, and the fact that there was no council and the matter was before the High Court.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Prof Ndemo revealed that he was among the top three candidates shortlisted for the VC position after interviews conducted on 21 March 2025.
On May 5, he received a letter from the chairman of the university council, Prof Amukowa Anangwe, appointing him as the next vice chancellor. However, Ndemo expressed concern over the lack of consent from the Ministry of Education, a legal requirement for such appointments.
"I sought confirmation from the Chairman regarding the Minister for Education's concurrence, as required by law. Prof. Anangwe assured me that it was being addressed and that he had submitted the necessary documents an hour earlier,” Prof. Ndemo wrote.
In a letter dated May 5, the Council issued a letter to Prof Mulaa to act as acting vice-chancellor until Prof Ndemo was formally relieved of his ambassadorial duties.
In the memo, which was copied to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, Anangwe cited a previous council resolution to justify the appointment.
"Prof Elijah Bitange Ndemo is in the process of handing over his current position as Kenya's Ambassador to Belgium... This is in exercise of the council authority granted to the undersigned," the letter reads.
However, in a statement released on Thursday, Prof Ndemo distanced himself from the appointment, describing the process as “unprocedural.” He said he had consequently withdrawn his candidacy for the position.
“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 In light of these circumstances, I have formally withdrawn my candidacy for the position of Vice Chancellor at the University of Nairobi,” he said.
Prof Ndemo revealed that upon receiving the letter of appointment, he sought confirmation from the Chairman of the Council, Prof Amukowa Anangwe, as to whether the appointment had received the legally required approval of the Cabinet Secretary for Education. The chairman reportedly assured him that the approval had been sought and the necessary documents had been submitted.
“The announcement triggered a flood of congratulatory messages on social media. However, I dissociate myself from this unprocedural process and have withdrawn my candidacy for the position,” Prof. Ndemo stated.
Speaking to Nation on condition of anonymity, a high-ranking official from the Ministry of Education confirmed that the process was unprocedural.
The official disclosed that while the Ministry had caught wind of the University Council Chairman's intentions, they were not formally notified nor involved in the appointment process.
“We had an idea that the Chairman was moving in that direction, but we were never officially informed. As it stands, we have no knowledge of the decision-making process that led to the announcement,” the official said.
Once again, the university is at the centre of a leadership vacuum and a credibility test.
