Former University of Nairobi Council Chairman vindicated after months-long legal battle
Former University of Nairobi (UoN) Council Chairperson Prof. Amukowa Anangwe has been cleared of all corruption-related charges that led to his dramatic arrest in May, marking the end of a tumultuous chapter that rocked Kenya’s premier institution of higher learning.
Prof. Anangwe’s lawyer, Peter Wanyama, confirmed on Saturday that his client had been vindicated after what he described as “trumped-up charges” orchestrated by senior government officials seeking to remove the academic from his position.
“A couple of months ago, some senior government officials wanted Prof. Amukowa Anangwe out as Chair of the University of Nairobi. They pushed EACC to file trumped-up charges against him,” Wanyama stated. “He was humiliated during his arrest and taken to the Anti-Corruption Court. Today, I am glad to report that the learned professor has been cleared and vindicated.”
The Dramatic Arrest
The saga began on May 16, 2025, when Prof. Anangwe was arrested at Kisumu International Airport in the early morning hours and flown to Nairobi. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detained him alongside three other senior university officials over allegations of irregular appointment of Daniel Brian Ouma Okeyo as Acting Chief Operations Officer.
The other council members arrested alongside Prof. Anangwe included Daniel Brian Ouma, Dr. Ahmed Sheikh Abdullahi, and Carren Kerubo Omwenga. Prof. Anangwe was released on a cash bail of Sh500,000, while the case proceeded through the anti-corruption court system.
Leadership Crisis at UoN
The arrests came amid a prolonged leadership crisis at the University of Nairobi that had paralyzed operations at the institution. The controversy centered on Prof. Anangwe’s decision to appoint Prof. Francis Mulaa as both the substantive Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) and acting Vice-Chancellor—appointments the Ministry of Education said contravened the Universities Act, 2012.
The Ministry of Education, through Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, had strongly opposed these appointments, stating they were made without proper consultation with the Cabinet Secretary and without following due process. The ministry accused Prof. Anangwe of overstepping his mandate and making unilateral decisions that violated university governance protocols.
Political Pressure and Resignation
The pressure on Prof. Anangwe intensified beyond the corruption charges. In February 2025, the Cabinet Secretary for Education had moved to revoke his appointment as Council Chairperson, though the High Court initially blocked this removal, with Justice Bahati Mwamuye ordering Anangwe back to office.
However, the combined weight of criminal charges and political pressure eventually proved overwhelming. Prof. Anangwe and other council members resigned in May 2025, with sources indicating they “didn’t have an option but to resign.”
A crucial meeting on May 22, 2025, between University of Nairobi Professors’ Association representatives and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei appears to have been the decisive moment that sealed Anangwe’s fate, suggesting high-level government involvement in the pressure campaign.
Vindication and Questions
Prof. Anangwe’s clearing of all charges raises serious questions about the motivations behind his prosecution and the broader governance challenges facing Kenya’s public universities. His legal team’s assertion that the charges were “trumped-up” to facilitate his removal suggests the case may have been politically motivated rather than based on genuine corruption concerns.
The University of Nairobi, once considered Kenya’s flagship institution of higher learning, has been embroiled in various governance controversies in recent years. The ongoing disputes have threatened to paralyze learning at the university, affecting thousands of students and the institution’s academic reputation.
With Prof. Anangwe now cleared of all charges, attention turns to the broader reforms needed in university governance to prevent similar crises. The case highlights the delicate balance between institutional autonomy and government oversight in Kenya’s higher education sector.
The vindication also underscores the importance of due process and the need for corruption-fighting agencies to ensure their actions are based on solid evidence rather than political expediency. As Kenya continues to grapple with corruption in public institutions, the Prof. Anangwe case serves as a reminder that the fight against graft must be conducted fairly and transparently.
The University of Nairobi, meanwhile, continues to operate under new leadership as it works to restore stability and focus on its core mandate of providing quality higher education to Kenyan students.
