Drama as judge exposes lawyer who sought private meeting before hearing

A prominent city lawyer is on the spot for attempting to privately visit a Kiambu High Court judge ahead of the hearing of the case on the Kenyatta University vice-chancellor succession battle.

Advocate Steve Ogolla, who represents Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Migos Ogamba, walked into Kiambu High Court on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, told the judge's aide he wanted to see Justice Margaret Njoki Mwangi privately ahead of today's hearing.

However, lawyer Ogolla's request was declined and ordered to leave

When the matter came up for directions on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Justice Mwangi raised the issue in open court, compelling Ogolla to explain why he had sought to see her privately in her chambers on Tuesday.

"Mr Steve Ogolla, yesterday May 19, 2026, came to Kiambu High Court, wherein he communicated to my aide that he wanted to see me, a request that I declined," Justice Mwangi stated plainly.

 In response, the lawyer stumbled through a justification, claiming he had only wanted to give the judge advance notice that he intended to make an oral application to discharge the interim orders already in place.

However, Justice Mwamgi noted that there is no procedure for visiting judges to inform them of the way one intends to prosecute their case.

Embarrassed, the said advocate, who had logged into court under another advocate's name, exited the virtual proceedings before the case's conclusion.

Consequently the judge recused herself immediately from handling the case further.

"The said advocate having explained in court today that he wanted to see me to inform me that he would be making an oral application today for the discharge of expert orders, I hereby disqualify myself from this matter," she ruled.

At the heart of the succession battle is Professor Waceke Wanjohi, KU's Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, who is fighting both to be appointed Vice-Chancellor and to have her contract renewed before it expires on July 31, 2026.

Through her advocate Christopher Mutuku, Professor Wanjohi had filed two applications, one barring the appointment of any new VC, and another compelling the Kenyatta University Council to renew her contract.

Both applications were granted by the court.

As far back as April 22, 2026, Justice Mwangi had barred CS Ogamba, the Public Service Commission,  and the Kenyatta University Council from proceeding with the VC recruitment process.

"An order is hereby issued  restraining  the CS PSC and  KU council jointly and severally, whether by themselves, their servants or agents or howsoever, from filling the position of Vice Chancellor, Kenyatta University, pending the hearing and determination of these proceedings," the judge ordered.

The dispute escalated further when, through a letter dated April 29, 2026, the Kenyatta University Council informed Professor Wanjohi that her contract would not be renewed despite her earlier request made in January 2026.

The council resolved that it would not renew her contract for the position of Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs upon its expiry.

Mutuku criticised the decision in court filings, accusing the council of resorting to underhand and unorthodox tactics unbefitting of the management of an academic institution of the stature of Kenyatta University, arguing that the move amounted to retaliation for his client’s court challenge.

On May 5, 2026, Justice Mwangi had stepped in again, ordering KUC to renew the professor's contract regardless.

On Wednesday, the court also consolidated both applications for joint hearing, with all interim orders remaining firmly in force until discharged.