Professor Margaret Hutchinson, the newly appointed Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi(UoN), is already confronting a significant challenge just one day into her tenure.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has given a seven-day strike notice, alleging that the university council is disrupting the institution’s stability. This announcement follows an extended period of leadership conflicts at Kenya’s leading university.
Maloba Wekesa, the secretary of the UASU University of Nairobi chapter, has expressed the union’s frustrations, claiming that the council’s actions have disrupted the institution’s operations. The union is threatening to initiate industrial action within a week if their grievances are not resolved, placing significant pressure on Hutchinson’s new leadership.
The origins of this upheaval can be traced to the controversial tenure of Professor Stephen Kiama, the former Vice Chancellor. Since his appointment in 2020, Kiama’s relationship with the university council has been marked by conflict.
Although appointed for a five-year term, his position has been continuously jeopardized, leading to his suspension last Friday. This suspension marks the fourth effort to remove him, following several interventions by influential government officials.
Under Kiama’s leadership, there were significant achievements, such as the increase in external research grants from KSh1.9 billion to KSh4.8 billion. However, despite these successes, his tenure was also marked by ongoing challenges.
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The Universities Act (2012) mandates that the appointment of Vice Chancellors for public universities be a politically neutral process, overseen by university councils and the Cabinet Secretary for Education. Nevertheless, the current situation at the University of Nairobi indicates a considerable departure from this guideline.
Hutchinson’s appointment was observed by the university council on August 5. The council, chaired by Prof Amukowa Anangwe, managed the transition. Hutchinson, a horticulturist and senior lecturer with over 30 years of experience in the agriculture sector, now leads an institution in the midst of turmoil.
To stabilize the university’s management, the council announced several key appointments. Ayub Gitau, previously the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, has been appointed as the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Francis Mulaa, the former Associate Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, has been named the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Enterprise.
The leadership crisis at the University of Nairobi highlights underlying problems within the institution. The council’s choice to put Kiama on compulsory leave has been met with resistance and controversy. This gap in leadership has intensified tensions among the university’s staff and stakeholders.
By Frank Mugwe
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