Kenya Insights

Tag: Prof Stephen Kiama

  • UoN Wrangles: Battle for New VC as Business School Scam Haunts Anangwe

    UoN Wrangles: Battle for New VC as Business School Scam Haunts Anangwe

    The wrangles at UoN are far from over. Several key questions remain unanswered as pressure mounts for a transparent recruitment process. Will Anangwe challenge his removal?

    Who will fill the vacant position? And will the next VC be appointed based on merit, or will money and politics dictate the outcome?

    For now, the university remains on edge, with lecturers, students, and stakeholders waiting for clarity on its leadership.

    What is certain is that UoN’s power struggles are a reflection of deeper governance issues within Kenya’s higher education sector.

    UoN Wrangles

    Power Struggles and Allegations Shake University of Nairobi Leadership

    The University of Nairobi (UoN) is in turmoil as leadership battles intensify over the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor (VC) and Deputy VC.

    At the center of the storm is the UoN Council Chair, Professor Amukowa Anangwe, who now faces mounting opposition.

    Allegations of mismanagement, corruption, and power struggles have engulfed the institution, forcing the Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Ogamba, to intervene.

    With high stakes in play, reports indicate that contenders for the top positions are engaging in underhanded tactics, including fundraising efforts to influence appointments.

    Adding to the tension, the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) UoN chapter has demanded Anangwe’s removal, accusing him of overstepping his authority.

    Meanwhile, political interference has further complicated the saga, dragging Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi into the controversy.

    The unfolding drama highlights deep-seated governance issues at Kenya’s premier university, leaving staff and students uncertain about the institution’s future.

    Leadership Wrangles at UoN

    The fight for control at the University of Nairobi has exposed cracks in its governance.

    At the heart of the crisis is Professor Amukowa Anangwe, a man once seen as a reformist but now facing fierce opposition from lecturers and staff.

    His troubles began when the council, which he chairs, was accused of manipulating the process of appointing the next VC and Deputy VC.

    Insiders claim that some aspirants for the top jobs are raising funds to secure their preferred candidates.

    This has raised concerns about the integrity of the selection process, with fears that merit may take a backseat to political and financial influence.

    The UASU UoN chapter has emerged as a vocal critic, arguing that Anangwe has taken over management roles beyond his mandate, effectively sidelining the acting VC, Professor Matgarer Hutchinson.

    The union’s dissatisfaction escalated when staff threatened to strike if Anangwe remained in office.

    In response, Education CS Julius Ogamba revoked Anangwe’s appointment in a gazette notice dated February 21, 2025. However, the sudden dismissal, which left the chairmanship position vacant, has raised more questions than answers.

    The Role of Politics in the UoN Power Struggle

    The battle at UoN has drawn the attention of powerful political figures, sparking accusations of interference and betrayal. While Ogamba’s decision to remove Anangwe appeared to be a victory for UASU and reformists, it also exposed political rifts within the government.

    Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, a longtime ally of Anangwe, has been criticized for not shielding him from the axe.

    His silence has fueled speculation that he either approved the removal or was unable to prevent it. This has reportedly left his supporters within the university and political circles frustrated.

    The growing involvement of politicians in UoN’s affairs underscores the institution’s significance beyond academics.

    As one of Kenya’s top universities, its leadership appointments often carry political weight, influencing both policy and financial decisions at the national level.

    The UoN Council’s Response and Future Implications

    Following Anangwe’s dismissal, the UoN Council issued a strongly worded statement on February 19, 2025, dismissing allegations of mismanagement.

    The council maintained that the university’s governance structures remain intact and that claims of corruption and irregularities are exaggerated.

    Despite this, critics argue that the council itself is part of the problem. The members, including Chancellor Professor Patrick Verkooijen, acting VC Professor Matgarer Hutchinson, and PS for Higher Education and Research Beatrice Inyangala, have been accused of lacking transparency in key decisions. Other council members include Denrick Ayot (representing the PS National Treasury and Planning), Carren Omwenga, Ahmed Abdullah, Parmain Narikae, and Sally Toroitich.

    With Anangwe out, attention now shifts to who will take over the chairmanship and whether governance reforms will follow.

    If the selection process remains controversial, UoN could face prolonged instability, affecting both academic operations and its reputation.

  • The Revised University of Nairobi Fee Structure To Tale Effect Starting September

    The Revised University of Nairobi Fee Structure To Tale Effect Starting September

    All new students joining the University of Nairobi (UoN) should brace themselves for tough times as the administration moves to effect the new fee structure starting next month.

    UoN Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) Academic Affairs, Prof Julius Ogeng’o said the revised administrative charges will apply for all first year undergraduate and postgraduate students who report from September 20.

    “This is to inform all students that the revised fee schedule will be implemented with effect from commencement of the 2021/2022 academic years,” said Prof Ogeng’o, in a circular dated August 24.

    He also said that the revised schedule if academic fees will apply only to self sponsored first year undergraduate and postgraduate students reporting on the same dates.

    However, he said that the revised administrative and academic fees will not apply to continuing students in second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth years. “For these students, the fees with which they were first registered will subsist.”

    UoN vice chancellor, Prof Stephen Kiama said has that the university has received a record high of 6407 students, which was more than the declared capacity.

    He said the university Senate met and approved all student admissions placed in the 61 undergraduate programmes at the university.

    Appropriate measures

    “The Senate observed that the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service placed more students than declared capacity in several of our programmes but agreed to take appropriate measures and ensure that all students are accommodated into their programmes of their choice,” said Prof Kiama in a virtual address to the UoN community on admission and orientation of first years.

    The new students are expected to receive joining instructions and lectures to begin on October 4.

    The university has also said the admissions of students who had initially been placed by KUCCPS or admitted in the last two years are still valid and have since been urged to register and report on September 20.

    Last month, UoN students protested against fee increments, terming it as unacceptable and wrong move.

    However, the university defended its move saying it was no longer tenable to run the institution with the current fees.

    The administration also stated that it has not been revised fees in the last over 10 years despite the changing needs of the industry in addition to every course having its own costs.

    Similarly, the university said it has had to scrap off some courses off because they have attracted fewer admissions over the past few years.

    The university more than doubled fees, in what has also been considered a move to ease the raging cash crunch, attributed to reduced student enrollment.

    Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) report indicated that enrolment at UoN dropped from 98,715 in 2016 to 62,963 in 2020, an accumulative drop of about 36.2 per cent.

    The university increased fees for Master’s courses like communication and MBA to more than Sh600,000 for a two-year programme from an average Sh275,000.

    On the other hand, degree courses like commerce, economics and law under the Module II have been increased by up to 70 percent to about Sh1 million for the four years.

    The fee increment is despite the Ministry of Education directive suspending all universities increment plans, shelving it to next year.