- Kibabii University has affirmed that Prof. Isaac Ipara Odeo remains the substantive holder of the office
- In a statement, the university said it had noted the misleading information with concern and urged students, staff, alumni and members of the public to disregard the rumours and rely solely on official communication channels
- Prof. Julius Kiprop Maiyo currently serves as Kibabii University’s substantive Deputy VC in charge of Planning, Partnerships, Research and Innovation, a position he assumed in February 2025
Kibabii University has dismissed reports circulating widely on social media claiming that the institution had appointed Prof. Julius Kiprop Maiyo as its new Vice-Chancellor, affirming that Prof. Isaac Ipara Odeo remains the substantive holder of the office.
The reports began circulating on Wednesday morning, July 15, claiming that a leadership change had taken place at the Bungoma-based public university. The claims spread rapidly, attracting widespread attention and creating uncertainty within the university community before the institution moved to clarify the matter.
In a statement, the university said it had noted the misleading information with concern and urged students, staff, alumni and members of the public to disregard the rumours and rely solely on official communication issued through its established channels. “CLARIFICATION. The university has noted with concern information circulating on social media regarding the appointment of a new vice chancellor,” the statement read.
The university went on to state unequivocally that no such appointment had been made. “We wish to clarify that the University Council has not appointed a new vice chancellor. The current substantive vice chancellor, Prof. Isaac Ipara Odeo, remains in office and continues to discharge his official duties,” the statement read.
Prof. Ipara had earlier dismissed the reports in an interview with Education News, saying he had received no formal communication from the Ministry of Education or any other relevant authority regarding a change in leadership.
“I am still the Vice-Chancellor of Kibabii University. I am yet to receive any communication from the Ministry of Education on any changes,” he said, remarks that were consistent with the university’s official position.
The institution noted that leadership transitions in Kenya’s public universities follow established legal and administrative procedures, with appointments made through university councils in accordance with the Universities Act and other applicable regulations, and are ordinarily communicated through official channels only after the required processes have been completed.
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Away from the false claims, the university clarified that Prof. Julius Kiprop Maiyo, whose name featured prominently in the viral reports, currently serves as Kibabii University’s substantive Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Planning, Partnerships, Research and Innovation, a position he assumed in February 2025.
Before taking up that role, Maiyo served as Dean of the School of Education at Kibabii University and has held several other senior leadership positions at the institution, including Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs. He also led the Directorate of Performance Contracting and Quality Assurance, where he oversaw quality standards and institutional performance while chairing several key university committees. Prior to joining Kibabii University’s top management, he held senior administrative positions at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST).
Maiyo, a professor of Economics of Education and Planning, holds a PhD in Education from the University of Pune in India, an M.Phil. in Economics and Planning of Education from Moi University, an MBA in Human Resource from the Indian School of Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Education (Arts) degree from Moi University.
According to the university, his academic work has attracted more than 821 citations, with an h-index of 11 and an i10-index of 14, with his research largely focused on education economics and policy planning. He also serves as a peer reviewer for the Commission for University Education (CUE) and has held leadership positions within the East Africa Quality Assurance Network (EAQAN).
Among his notable achievements, Maiyo has led an International Development Research Centre (IDRC)-funded multi-country teacher mentorship project and secured DAAD grants to support leadership training initiatives in higher education.
The university reiterated its commitment to transparency and accurate communication, urging stakeholders to verify information through official statements rather than relying on unverified social media reports, and maintained that Prof. Isaac Ipara Odeo continues to serve as substantive Vice-Chancellor while discharging his mandate in accordance with the law.
By Bernard Magada and Godfrey Wamalwa
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