You have one week to act - MPs tell UoN council over governance issues

The University of Nairobi (UoN) Council has been granted a one-week ultimatum by Members of Parliament to address what they termed a governance crisis that has hampered the institution's operations.

The directive came after a heated session with the National Assembly's Committee on Education, which ended abruptly when the council failed to adequately respond to concerns raised by MPs.

Julius Melly, chair of the committee, criticised the council's preparedness and accused it of overseeing an illegal management structure that contravenes the Universities Act and the institution's statutes.

"We have given the council until next Thursday to prepare adequately. They claimed they didn’t have enough time to prepare for this meeting, forcing us to adjourn. One major issue is the management structure, which is operating in violation of the Universities Act and the university's statutes," Melly said.

The committee cited several concerns, including prolonged acting appointments that exceed human resource policy limits of six months.

Additionally, the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has legally challenged the council over these alleged violations, demanding explanations and human resource manuals, which the council has yet to provide.

"Several members raised concerns about the university's organisational structure. The council failed to present proper documents, prompting us to suspend the meeting and demand compliance within one week," Melly added.

MPs also criticised the council for placing staff on compulsory leave without due process and bypassing statutory roles such as Deputy Vice Chancellors during restructuring efforts.

Malava East MP Moses Malulu Injendi questioned the university's governance, lamenting that it was making headlines for internal disputes rather than academic achievements.

"Let me go straight to the point regarding Brian Ouma: Was his position advertised? Did he apply, attend interviews, and what was the outcome? Did he genuinely earn an MBA from this university, and was the certificate valid?" Injendi posed, raising concerns about the recruitment of the senior official.

Responding to these queries, Council Chairperson Amukowa Anangwe clarified: "When Ouma was recruited, the council had no role in his appointment. By the time we joined in May, both Ouma and former VC Prof Stephen Kiama were already in office. At the council level, we transact matters formally and make decisions. The government and the university must determine the way forward."

Acting Vice-Chancellor Margaret Jesang attempted to explain the university's operational structure but admitted her limited knowledge due to her short tenure in office.

"I am stating what I know, as I have only been in office for three months," she said, facing criticism from the committee for her lack of clarity.

The MPs also raised concerns over numerous lawsuits filed by UASU, accusing the council of poor governance practices. The committee emphasised the need for transparency and adherence to legal frameworks in managing the university.

"We are determined to resolve these issues once and for all. At our next meeting, we will invite other stakeholders to participate and ask further questions to find lasting solutions," Melly said.

The council has until next week to provide a comprehensive response to the committee's demands.

The University has been grappling with leadership issues. In October, the Council announced the termination of Prof. Stephen Kiama's tenure as vice chancellor, stating that he ceased to hold the position.

In August, the Council also suspended Kiama for a period of three months, noting that he had failed to meet the requirements for a second term and, therefore, does not qualify to remain in office.

The Council went ahead and appointed Prof. Margaret Hutchinson as the acting vice-chancellor.