The race for Kenyatta University (KU) Vice-Chancellor has entered a decisive phase, with the second batch of four candidates set to face the interview panel on Thursday in a tightly contested bid to lead the country’s second-largest university.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) began interviewing the first four candidates on Tuesday and is scheduled to conclude the process today with the remaining four, selected from a pool of 13 applicants.
The eight shortlisted candidates include 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.
Kenyatta University Council Chairperson Prof Clara Momanyi (left) during the announcement of Prof John Okumu (right) as Acting Vice-Chancellor.
Photo credit: Pool
The PSC had invited members of the public to submit any credible information regarding the candidates through sworn affidavits.
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.
While his first term was relatively smooth, his final years in office were turbulent. The troubles began in August 2022 after he declined to cede 410 acres of university land to the government for the construction of an infectious disease unit under the World Health Organization (WHO).
The standoff triggered his removal from office by the University Council, then chaired by Dr Ben Chumo, which appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Prof Waceke Wanjohi as acting VC.
However, Prof Wainaina was twice reinstated through court interventions, underscoring deep governance tensions at the institution.
In January 2025, he returned to court to challenge the extension of his compulsory leave beyond January 30, 2025, a move he successfully contested, allowing him to serve until the end of his term.
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.
The ongoing recruitment mirrors a similar exercise concluded last week at the University of Nairobi (UoN), although in contrast, the acting VC Prof. Margaret Hutchinson did not apply for the position.
Notably, Prof Stephen Onyango Odebero and Prof Mary Abukutsa-Onyango, who are in the KU race, were also shortlisted for the UoN position.
The incoming KU Vice-Chancellor will inherit a university grappling with severe financial strain, with debts exceeding Sh12 billion. Inadequate government funding, coupled with mounting unpaid obligations such as pensions and statutory deductions, has stretched operations and forced the institution to rely on external support to meet monthly payroll.
Data from the Ministry of Education shows that as of January 31, 2026, KU’s pending bills stood at Sh12.7 billion. This includes unremitted statutory deductions such as PAYE (Sh5.8 billion), NSSF (Sh393 million), housing levy (Sh398 million) as well as pensions, gratuity and insurance arrears amounting to Sh5.2 billion.
In addition to this, the university owes suppliers Sh749 million and part-time lecturers Sh23 million.
KU’s financial challenges reflect a broader crisis across public universities, whose total pending bills have surged 17.6 percent to Sh100.3 billion in just eight months.
Prof Paul Kuria Wainaina, the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of Kenyatta University.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
Data tabled in Parliament indicates that KU ranks fourth among public universities with highest debt after Egerton University (Sh25.5 billion), UoN (Sh16.9 billion) and Technical University of Kenya (Sh14.13 billion).
Following KU at position five is Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) at Sh10.7 billion, and Moi University at Sh10.3 billion.
Beyond the financial pressures, the next VC will also be tasked with stabilising governance structures, restoring institutional credibility, and steering KU through a period of heightened scrutiny and reform in the higher education sector.
The search for a new Kenyatta University (KU) Vice Chancellor could face headwinds following eight petitions challenging the ongoing interview by the Public Service Commission (PSC), with the Commission on the spot over favouritism during shortlisting.
At the heart of the petitions by staff of the university and a section of officials drawn from the Universities’ Academic Staff Union and the Kenyatta University Staff Union is the inclusion of Prof Waceke Wanjohi in the shortlist by the PSC.
According to documents seen by Nation, the eight petitioners – who did not want to be mentioned for fear of victimization – argue Ms Wanjohi does not meet two key minimum requirements for consideration for the vacant position.
Prof Wanjohi is among the eight candidates shortlisted for the position and is set to face the interview panel on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
In the advertisement by the PSC, invited applicants were to meet some 11 minimum qualification requirements.
One of the requirements was that a candidate must have had at least 15 years of continuous academic, research and managerial experience, five of which must be at a position of Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) of a university, Principal of a Constituent University College or equivalent institution with demonstrable leadership and management capacity.
According to the petitioners, Prof Wanjohi had worked as a DVC for four years and five months at the time of the applications, which closed on January 9, 2026, against a required minimum of five years.
Documents seen by Nation, indicate that Ms Wanjohi was appointed as DVC for Academic Affairs at KU on July 28, 2021; taking effect on August 1, 2021.
Prof Wanjohi was appointed to the position of DVC (Academic) on July 28, 2021 by former VC Prof Paul Wainaina, as well as her letter – dated January 29, 2026 – addressed to KU Governing Council Chairperson Prof Clara Momanyi requesting for renewal of contract as DVC, Academic where she indicated her contract began on August 1, 2021.
“For this process to be deemed fair, Prof Waceke Wanjohi should be removed from the shortlist for the position of Vice-Chancellor, Kenyatta University, because she does not meet the minimum qualification of five years as DVC as stated in the advertisement,” stated one of the sworn affidavits.
Prof Waceke Wanjohi.
Photo credit: Pool
“In addition, the PSC should apply the five-year qualification requirement strictly and equally to all applicants, with no exceptions or special treatment for any individual.”
Consequently, the petitioners argue that should Ms Wanjohi’s shortlisting be sustained and eventually appointed to office, it will form a bad precedent for future recruitment processes where “unqualified applicants” are shortlisted, invited for interviews, and appointed to office, despite falling short of the set qualifications.
Further, they argue that her shortlisting may inadvertently signal to future recruitment processes that stated minimum qualifications are negotiable, optional, or selectively enforced; degrading the integrity of shortlisting decisions, and exposes the Commission to legal challenges.
“The PSC, having set the qualification criteria, cannot lawfully shortlist an unqualified applicant for the advertised position without making a mockery of its own qualification criteria and indeed the entire recruitment process.”
When reached for comment, PSC Director of Public Communication Browne Kutswa said he will get back as he was driving. He had not gotten back by the time of going to Press.
Adding to Prof Wanjohi’s tribulations are allegations of abuse of office during her tenure as acting VC at Kenyatta University.
According to one of the affidavits, Prof Wanjohi is currently being investigated by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over allegations of embezzlement of public funds and procurement irregularities at KU during the financial years 2021/2022 to 2024/2025 involving Neema Hospital.
Documents Nation is in possession of alleged that the don is one of the proprietors of Neema Hospital, a facility which was providing medical services to the university staff.
“Yes, we have an ongoing investigation on her touching on embezzlement of public funds and procurement irregularities,” EACC Spokesperson Steve Karuga told Nation.
The petitioners argue the allegations fly in the face of the requirement for a candidate to demonstrate high ethical standards, integrity, transparency and accountability, professionalism, teamwork and good stewardship as well as comply with the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution.
“In view of the above, Prof Waceke Wanjohi has nor demonstrated high ethical standards, integrity, transparency and accountability and does not comply with the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution.”
