Legislators give UoN council a week to sort out university mess
The entrance to the University of Nairobi
Members of Parliament have given the University of Nairobi (UoN) Council one week to resolve what they described as a governance crisis that has disrupted operations at the institution.
The directive follows a stormy meeting with the National Assembly's Committee on Education, which was abruptly adjourned on Tuesday after the council failed to provide sufficient answers and documentation to the MPs' questions.
The chair of the committee Julius Melly criticised the council for its lack of preparedness and failure to address critical concerns. According to Mr Melly, the university is being managed through an illegal structure that does not align with the Universities Act or its statutes.
“We have given the council until next Thursday to prepare adequately. The council claimed they lacked enough time to prepare for this meeting. Consequently, we had to adjourn because they were not ready to address the issues raised. One of the major concerns is the university’s management structure. The council has been operating the university through an entity that violates the Universities Act and the institution’s statutes,” said Mr Melly.
The committee highlighted various issues, including prolonged acting appointments, which contravene human resource policies limiting such roles to six months.
“Several members raised concerns regarding the university's organisational structure, which is allegedly in violation of the Universities Act. The academic staff union has challenged this illegal framework in court, requesting HR manuals and explanations from the council. However, the council failed to provide these documents, prompting us to suspend the meeting and demand compliance within one week,” said Mr Melly.
The committee also flagged reports of staff being placed on compulsory leave without due process. Furthermore, the council was accused of bypassing statutory positions, such as Deputy Vice Chancellors and Principals, during a restructuring process.
“Anybody can present what you have given us as the university organogram, it has no letterhead, we want to know and understand it. Can you briefly explain the university's organogram as per the university's statutes and how the university is currently operating within the organogram?” asked Mr Melly.
Malava East MP Moses Malulu Injendi criticised the university for consistently making headlines for internal wrangles rather than academic excellence.
During the session, MPs raised questions about the recruitment of a senior university official, Brian Ouma.
“Let me go straight to the point regarding Brian Ouma: Was the position he occupies advertised? Did he apply and attend interviews, and what was the outcome? We also want to confirm whether he genuinely earned an MBA from this university—did he attend classes and receive a valid certificate?” asked Mr Injendi.
Responding to the query, Council Chairperson Prof Amukowa Anangwe stated: “When Ouma was recruited, the council had no role in his appointment. By the time we joined in May, both Ouma and former VC Prof Stephen Kiama were already in office. At the council level, we transact matters formally, make decisions and move forward. The government and the university must determine the way forward regarding this matter,”
Acting Vice-Chancellor Margaret Jesang attempted to clarify the university’s structure but faced criticism for her inability to provide comprehensive answers.
“Can you explain how the university is currently operating within its organogram as stipulated in the statutes?” asked Mr. Melly.
“I am stating what I know, I have only been in office for three months,” responded Ms Jesang.
Additionally, MPs questioned the council’s decision to send some staff members on compulsory leave without following due process. There were also reports of multiple lawsuits filed by the University Academic Staff Union over governance issues, further complicating the situation.
The committee emphasised the need for transparency and adherence to legal frameworks in running the institution.
“We are determined to ensure these issues are resolved once and for all. At our next meeting, we will invite other stakeholders to join the discussion and we will have more questions to find lasting solutions,” said Melly.
