Petition filed seeking removal of Kenyatta University VC over alleged nepotism
Kenyatta University alumni have petitioned the Employment and Labour Relations Court to remove Vice-Chancellor Paul Kuria Wainaina in his final months, alleging unlawful, nepotistic decisions that risk a governance crisis.
A petition has been filed at the Employment and Labour Relations Court seeking to have Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Kuria Wainaina, removed from office during the final two months of his tenure.
The petition, submitted by university alumni Elizabeth Chesang and Rosemary Wanjiru Gichuhi through their lawyer, Odhiambo Ouma of OG LLP, alleges that Prof Wainaina has engaged in a series of unlawful and nepotistic actions during his "lame-duck" period, undermining the governance of the public institution.
The court, after reviewing a Certificate of Urgency accompanying the petition, directed on Thursday, December 4, 2025, that the case documents be served immediately. An inter partes hearing has been scheduled for December 16, 2025.
The petitioners accuse the outgoing VC, whose term ends on January 26, 2026, of exploiting his final months to make unilateral decisions that violate constitutional provisions and public policy.
They contend that his actions contravene the Mwongozo Code of Governance for State Corporations, which bars chief executives from participating in the recruitment of their successors to ensure impartiality.
According to the petition, Prof Wainaina unilaterally formed a committee to develop criteria for appointing the next vice-chancellor and interfered with the statutory functions of the University Council. The petitioners warn that such conduct threatens to trigger a governance crisis.
Advocate Ouma emphasised the urgency of the case, arguing that the alleged mismanagement could harm the university's reputation. "If the court does not intervene urgently, the university risks a management crisis that may undermine its standing," he stated.
The petition lists several alleged irregularities, including the dismissal of key office holders such as the Director of City Campus and the Dean of the Graduate School, with replacements reportedly drawn from Prof Wainaina's family and close associates.
His son, Jasan Mwirigi Kuria, his daughter-in-law, Mercy Cherotich, and relative Lawrence Kamau Njau are cited as beneficiaries.
The petition also challenges the extension of Professor Paul Owuor Okemo's tenure as Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Administration and Finance beyond the six-month limit.
The petitioners argue that these actions have already destabilised governance at the university, leading to the resignation of the University Council Chairperson, Dr Ben Chumo, and the Chairperson of the Human Resource Committee.
In her affidavit, Chesang emphasised that terminal leave provisions exist to prevent "lame-duck opportunism" and ensure a fair transition.
The petition seeks orders compelling Prof Wainaina to proceed on terminal leave, staying all recent appointments and revocations, and revoking the extended acting DVC appointment.
Principal Judge Byram Ongaya ordered that the petition be served immediately, setting up a decisive hearing on December 16, 2025, just weeks before Prof Wainaina's term ends.
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