Ministry Of Education Disowns Purported Appointments At University Of Nairobi

The Ministry of Education has issued a firm clarification disowning two letters dated May 5, 2025, purportedly from the Chairperson of the University of Nairobi Council, which claimed to appoint Prof. Francis Jackim Mulaa as both the Substantive Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) and the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

In an official statement, the ministry described the letters — referenced as uon/cs/05/05/25(4) — as unauthorised and contrary to the law, emphasizing that the alleged appointments were made without following the mandatory legal procedures outlined in the Universities Act, 2012.

According to Section 35(1)(a)(v) of the Act, the appointment of Vice-Chancellors and Deputy Vice-Chancellors at public universities must be made by the university council, in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary, after a competitive process overseen by the Public Service Commission.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry of Education confirms that no such consultations were held between the University of Nairobi Council and the Cabinet Secretary regarding the purported appointments,” the ministry stated.

Furthermore, the Principal Secretary for Higher Education, who sits on the University of Nairobi Council, confirmed that no council meeting was convened to deliberate or decide on the appointments in question.

This revelation underscores what the ministry called a “clear usurpation of the role of the council” and a violation of the Universities Act.

The ministry declared the actions by the Chairperson of Council “egregious violations of the law” and signaled that appropriate action would be taken in due course to address the breach.

In the interim, the Ministry has reaffirmed the current holders of key leadership positions at the University of Nairobi, all serving in an acting capacity:

Vice-Chancellor: Prof. Jesang Hutchinson
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs): Prof. Ayub Gitau
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation & Enterprise): Prof. Francis Mulaa
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Human Resource & Administration): Prof. John Demesi Mande
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Finance, Planning & Development): Prof. Jackson Maalu

The ministry underscored its commitment to working with relevant agencies to ensure Kenya’s institutions of higher learning are governed lawfully and uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and good corporate governance.

“Leadership in our universities must be exemplary. These institutions play a sacrosanct role in preparing the human capital critical for the nation’s present and future development,” the ministry emphasized.

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