MPs call for dissolution of UoN Council over governance crisis

Lawmakers have called for the dissolution of the University of Nairobi (UoN) Council, accusing its chairman, Prof Amukoa Anangwe, of interfering with the institution’s management.

The National Assembly’s Education Committee has also directed the Ministry of Education to submit a report within seven days outlining steps taken to resolve the leadership crisis.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has also been summoned to respond to the concerns.

Acting committee chair Jerusha Momanyi (Kisii Woman Representative) faulted the ministry for failing to address the governance issues at the university, warning that inaction could lead to its downfall.

“We are directing the Ministry of Education to submit a report on the University of Nairobi within seven days. There is clear inertia in the ministry, if we allow more time, we may never get answers,” Momanyi said.

She likened the situation at UoN to that of Moi University, which faced similar issues before sinking into crisis.

“We saw what happened with Moi University, we warned about it, but it still sank. We cannot allow UoN to follow the same path. This committee demands action now,” she said.

Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo accused Prof Anangwe of overstepping his mandate by making unilateral decisions, including interfering with staff appointments.

“One person, the council chairman, is acting as the entire council. In one instance, we saw a letter directing the postponement of the dean's election. While the law allows the current dean to continue acting, he chose to appoint an acting dean,” Gisairo said.

Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera also raised concerns over the council’s conduct, warning that its actions could cripple the university.

“We are telling you the problem—the University of Nairobi council has installed itself as an executive. There has been a silent coup at the university,” Nabwera said.

The lawmakers’ recommendations come just days after UoN staff, through the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu), threatened to go on strike to demand the removal of Prof Anangwe.

The lecturers accused him of assuming the role of the Vice Chancellor, making key decisions unilaterally, and disrupting governance at the institution.

“Prof Anangwe is behaving as if he is the Vice Chancellor. He has been unilaterally issuing transfer letters, extending staff contracts at his whim, and sitting in internal interviews. This blatant overreach is unacceptable,” Uasu UoN Chapter Secretary Maloba Wekesa said.

The lecturers further alleged that Prof Anangwe has ignored directives from the Chief of Staff and the Head of Public Service regarding the separation of powers between the University Council and management.

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“If Prof Anangwe wants to be Vice-Chancellor, let him apply for the job instead of usurping roles that are not his. We are calling on the Education Committee of Parliament to censure him, and the Cabinet Secretary must intervene before the situation worsens,” Wekesa added.

The staff also raised concerns over the alleged existence of a “Chief Operations Officer” position held by Brian Ouma, which they claim is illegal.

According to Uasu, the position does not exist under the UoN Charter or the Public Service Commission framework.

“The University Council has allowed an illegal position to persist, draining public funds while UoN’s ranking plummets due to bad governance. The Chief Operations Officer position must be revoked immediately,” Wekesa said.

Uasu warned that failure to address these issues within a week would result in a strike. “We are ready to down our tools if the government does not take action. We will not allow one person to run UoN like a personal kiosk.”

Financial distress

In its response to the ongoing leadership crisis, UON acknowledged that it is grappling with significant financial difficulties, alongside other public universities in Kenya.

“We acknowledge that the University is currently navigating unprecedented financial challenges that demand urgent and decisive action,” UoN said in a statement on Wednesday.

The institution revealed that the government has approved a 24-month transformation agenda to address the financial crisis, which will be executed under the Chancellor’s titular leadership.

According to UoN, the initiative is aimed at restoring financial stability and ensuring long-term sustainability.

As part of the transformation agenda, the university said it will focus on reforming academic programmes, enhancing productivity, and diversifying revenue streams—including the commercialization of idle assets.

“Prior to this, continuous consultations have been ongoing, involving engagements with various stakeholders, including staff, students, and industry partners,” UoN said.

The institution emphasised that these discussions were preceded by the launch of the ‘Big 5’ transformation agenda, demonstrating its commitment to inclusive decision-making. It further disclosed that a series of forums and town hall meetings have been planned to gather additional input and ensure the smooth implementation of the reforms.

The institution urged its staff to refrain from engaging in strikes that could derail progress.

“We strongly believe that the threats being issued belatedly are diversionary tactics intended to impede the transformation agenda of the University, and to protect certain individuals within the Union who are facing investigations for disciplinary actions related to allegations of financial impropriety,” UoN said.

It called on Uasu and other stakeholders to allow ongoing investigations to proceed without obstruction and let the law take its course. It also welcomed the intervention of relevant investigative government agencies in addressing concerns related to financial mismanagement.