The vice chancellor of Kenyatta University, Prof Paul Wainaina, has moved to court to block an attempt by the university council to replace him as head of the institution.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court has put on hold the recruitment process that had been started by the council following Prof Wainaina’s application seeking to stop the Public Service Commission (PSC) from proceeding with the process.
Prof Wainaina, who was previously ousted in a leadership shake-up, argues that the ongoing efforts to remove him are unlawful and a continuation of the political interference that led to his earlier dismissal.
The professor says he was unfairly targeted because of his stance against the subdivision of KU land, an issue that has sparked a leadership crisis within the institution.
According to court filings, Prof Wainaina contends that the recruitment of a new VC was initiated without following due process. He insists that he remains the substantive office holder and that any move to replace him contravenes previous court directives that reinstated him to his position.
He has been on leave since April 2024 when the university council, chaired Dr Ben Chumo, sent him on forced leave to exhaust his accumulated leave days.
In January 2025, the PSC advertised for the position of vice-chancellor.
Prof Wainaina argues that he is still under contract and that his term officially ends in March 2026.
Prof Wainaina filed the petition on January 30, 2025, alleging that the Kenyatta University council and the PSC had unlawfully attempted to remove him before his contract expired. The PSC reviewed the case and advised the council that the VC had a valid contract.
The letter seen by the Nation , indicates that Prof Wainaina’s earlier contract (2018-2023) was renewed for three years (2023-2026) and was not subject to the retirement age.
It also states that the university council requested the PSC to advertise the VC position without acknowledging Prof Wainaina’s contract.
Further the PSC directed the university council to rescind its letter dated December 11, 2024 and instructed that Prof Wainaina should resume office without any further delay as his contract is valid and enforceable.
The PSC also cancelled the advertisement for the VC position published on January 22, 2025. The Commission found that the vacancy had been advertised based on incorrect information and without due consideration of Prof Wainaina’s existing contract.
Shortly before the 2022 general election, Prof Wainaina was caught in a stand-off with then President Uhuru Kenyatta over KU land. The government had planned to allocate sections of university property to various entities, including 30 acres to the World Health Organization (WHO), 10 acres to the African Centre for Disease Control, and 180 acres to Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital. Another 190 acres were earmarked to settle squatters on the contested Kamae land. Prof Wainaina refused to comply, arguing that the land was designated for student hostels, a children’s hospital, and future university projects.
He was suspended, then reinstated and offered a new contract when Kenya Kwanza came to power.
