The race for substantive vice chancellors at the University of Nairobi (UoN) and Kenyatta University (KU) has entered the home stretch, with councils set to settle on one candidate from a Public Service Commission (PSC) shortlist in consultation with Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.
The PSC told Parliament it forwarded the names of three top candidates to each institution after concluding the recruitment process, which followed interviews conducted in March.
The next phase is for the university councils, in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary for Education, to settle on one name from the list for official appointment.
“The process is ongoing and once it is done we will make the announcement, so let people be patient as I cannot divulge further information at this point,” said KU Council chairperson Prof Clara Momanyi.
Similar sentiments were shared by the UoN Council, which noted that the process had entered a critical stage that should not be rushed.
“The UoN Council has already undertaken its role and consultations with the Cabinet Secretary for Education are ongoing for the formal appointment of a VC,” the UoN Council said.
Concerns have been raised over the delayed appointment of substantive VCs at public universities, with the latest call coming from UoN dons demanding the immediate appointment of a substantive VC.
For UoN, the PSC interviewed six seasoned scholars on March 19, 2026, with the shortlist comprising Prof Bernard Odhiambo Aduda, Prof Isaiah Omolo Ndiege, Prof Stephen Onyango Odebero, Prof Mary Abukutsa-Onyango, Prof Francis Jackim Mulaa and Eng Prof Ayub Njoroge Gitau.
The latest recruitment exercise follows a turbulent attempt last year to fill the position, when the successful candidate, Bitange Ndemo, declined the role citing procedural irregularities.
The main entrance to Kenyatta University.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
Additionally, the University Council’s attempt to appoint Prof Francis Jackim Mulaa as acting VC was nullified by the Ministry of Education, which ruled the process unlawful. The council was at the time chaired by Prof Amukowa Anangwe.
To ensure there was no vacuum at the institution, the UoN Council appointed Prof Hutchinson as acting vice chancellor following the exit of Prof Stephen Kiama, who had been suspended amid months of leadership wrangles at the institution.
For KU, interviews were concluded on March 25, 2026, with the shortlist comprising eight candidates, including Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof John Okumu, Prof Paul Nyaga Mbatia, Prof Stephen Onyango Odebero, Prof Mary Abukutsa-Onyango, Prof Gitonga Nkanata Mburugu, Prof Waceke Wanjohi, Prof Godfrey S. Mse and Prof Bulitia Godrick Mathews.
The recruitment follows the retirement of former Vice-Chancellor Prof Paul Wainaina, whose tenure lapsed in January 2026 after a period marked by protracted leadership and governance wrangles that frequently spilled into the courts.
Following his exit, Prof John Okumu, who has served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs for a decade, was appointed acting vice chancellor.
PSC chief executive Paul Famba told the National Assembly Education Committee on Thursday that three names of recommended candidates were forwarded to the UoN Council on April 10, 2026, for finalisation of the appointment.
The PSC defended its track record in university appointments, saying it had processed and made decisions on recruitment for key positions at 24 public universities since the start of the year.
The positions are for VCs as well as deputy vice chancellors, with the list of universities including UoN, KU, Egerton University, Masinde Muliro University, Pwani University, Garissa University and Kisii University.
Others are Alupe University, Kaimosi Friends University, Multimedia University of Kenya, Meru University of Science and Technology, the Open University of Kenya, Karatina University and the Technical University of Kenya, among others.
The DVC recruitments cut across Administration and Finance, Academic and Students Affairs, Research, Innovation and Outreach, as well as Planning, Partnerships, Research and Innovation.
