The entrance to the University of Nairobi.
Senators have waded into the never-ending wrangles at the University of Nairobi, calling for urgent investigations into management issues plaguing the institution.
The development follows an alleged fallout at the university following the dismissal of former Vice Chancellor Stephen Kiama in October after months of suspension.
Prof Kiama had been on a collision course with the university's governing council for months, and his dismissal came ahead of the expiry of his contract in January next year.
The Senate Education Committee is now set to launch an inquiry into allegations of mismanagement at the university.
The move comes after senators raised concerns about various governance issues plaguing the university, including misuse of university resources, irregular recruitment and promotion of administrative staff.
Others include arbitrary transfer of staff, undue placement of staff on compulsory leave, scrapping of lawful positions and creation of non-existent posts.
Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi raised the alarm, saying there were allegations that the chairperson of the university council, Prof Amukowa Anangwe, had taken over the role of the vice-chancellor in the day-to-day running of the university.
The council is accused of developing a human resources manual without consulting the Public Service Commission, the university senate, the Ministry of Education, the University's Academic Staff Union (Uasu) and other stakeholders.
In a letter dated October 14, 2024, Prof Anangwe said the council had terminated Mr Kiama’s services on September 27 following his suspension a month earlier on August 3, 2024.
The council chairperson said the suspension came hot on the heels of ongoing investigations into Prof Kiama’s conduct, including allegations of misconduct and insubordination.
The Senate deputy speaker also wants the committee chaired by Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu to explain the circumstances under which Mr Brian Ouma, the acting Chief Operations Officer (COO) at the University, was recruited and subsequently promoted.
He wants the committee to explain why Mr Ouma's contract as acting COO was renewed despite a finding by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) that the employee had initially secured employment using alleged fake academic papers, yet the position does not exist in the University of Nairobi Charter and the Statutes, and which has already been declared illegal by the courts.
“The committee should provide reasons for the inordinate delay by the University Council to competitively recruit and substantively fill senior management positions,” said Mr Murungi.
The positions are vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellors, head of finance, head of procurement, head of university health services, head of security and safety, head of halls management and registrar administration, among others.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka added that the investigations should disclose the reason for Prof Kiama’s suspension and dismissal.
“The committee should table a comprehensive report of the investigations into his conduct, if any, including allegations of misconduct, if any, and insubordination, if any, and the disciplinary actions which were taken by the university or any other body,” said Mr Onyonka.
He further said that the inquiry should detail the status of the university’s assets, particularly the properties and land, including any ongoing plans for their disposal and transfer to private individuals and developers.
It should also outline the steps taken by the University Council to protect the assets under its control.
“The information we have is that many private individuals, who are unscrupulous, have just been transferring acres and acres of land owned by these universities in the Republic of Kenya,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot said the allegations against Prof Anangwe are serious and the committee should quickly find out what the facts are in the particular case.
The Kericho senator said he hopes the committee intervenes while there is still time before the university goes the way of many other public universities that have gone down the drain because of wrangles at the leadership level.
“I have heard this conversation from very reliable sources, including people that I hold in extremely high regard. As they say, if you hear it repeated more than once and perhaps from very credible sources, then chances are that there is truth in what is being said,” Mr Cheruiyot said.
“It will be extremely unfortunate if the Senate of this country just watches idly as such a great institution goes down.”
Reached for comment, Prof Anangwe denied usurping roles of the vice-chancellor, saying the Council derives its mandate from the University Act, 2012 and the University Charter, 2013.
He explained that according to the two legal instruments, the functions of the Council include hiring, and making policies and resolutions. And, according to Section 18(9) of the Charter, such decisions of the Council can be communicated by the chairperson, the vice-chancellor or any other officer as determined by the Council.
"We have gone beyond the law and if anybody alleges the contrary, the onus is upon them to provide evidence and we will give sufficient explanation for each action and decision made," said Prof Anangwe.
"So those who are making those assertions are making them out of ignorance of how the Council operates. For instance, when the Council appoints an acting VC, the VC cannot communicate this but the chair."
Governance issues have plagued the university with a succession battle for the vice-chancellor position at the centre of the differences.
In April 2024, the Council attempted to send Prof Kiama on compulsory leave but he stayed on after the intervention of powerful government officials.
A month later, the Council sent him on leave, upholding its April 19, 2024 decision, but he defied the communication to proceed on leave.
