The University of Nairobi (UoN) is in turmoil. Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, the chairman of the council, is accused of overstepping his mandate and interfering in the management of the university.
Dr. Maloba Wekesa, the secretary general of UoN chapter of Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), has raised the alarm over what he calls blatant disregard for governance structures.
Since Prof. Anangwe’s appointment, the university has been in chaos. The UASU challenged his appointment in court, and although the ruling declared it illegal, he remains in office. The case is currently under appeal.
Despite clear guidelines separating the roles of the council and university management, Prof. Anangwe has taken matters into his own hands. He has personally issued transfer letters, extended contracts at will, and even participated in internal interviews of junior staff.
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His involvement has left all senior positions at the university in an acting capacity. Instead of allowing the vice-chancellor and administrators to run the institution, he has called on the deans to issue directives, a move the UASU describes as extreme overreach.
Dr. Wekesa now wants the Parliamentary Committee on Education to censure Prof. Anangwe and his council. He is also calling on the Cabinet Secretary for Education to intervene and restore order.
Another issue fueling the crisis is the controversial position of Chief Operations Officer. According to Dr. Wekesa, this role does not exist in the UoN’s charter or statutes. Even after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) declared it illegal, the council has taken no action.
Dr. Wekesa is calling for the immediate revocation of the position. He wants the government to hold the council accountable for what he describes as a bla
