Prof Margaret appointed acting UoN Vice-chancellor after Prof Kiama sent on three-month suspension

 

Embattled University of Nairobi Vice-chancellor Prof Stephen Kiama Gitahi speaking during the crowning of winner of the great millet quest at Radisson Blu Hotel Nairobi. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

The Council of the University of Nairobi has appointed Prof Margaret Hutchinson as acting Vice-chancellor.

This is after the council rejected a second term request by embattled Vice-Chancellor Prof Stephen Kiama and rather sent him on a three-month suspension.

Council chairman Prof Amukoa Anangwe said as a result, Kiama has been suspended pending investigations into his conduct.

“As the University of Nairobi Council, met today and resolved to suspend the Vice Chancellor Prof Stephen Kiama for three months pending investigation on his misconduct and insubordination where action will be taken after,” said Anangwe.

Also appointed is Prof Ayub Gitau as Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of academics. Prof Anangwe announced changes on Friday after a daylong meeting.

Prof Kiama assumed the position in January 2020 on a five-year contract replacing the then-outgoing VC Prof Peter Mbithi. 

Anangwe yesterday said the Council resolved to suspend the embattled VC following his misconduct and insubordination.

“The Council was unable to access the board room at the 19th floor after the VC blocked entry to the building forcing us to use security to access the premises,” said Anangwe.

He said while on suspension, the VC will not be allowed to transact any business on behalf of the institution.

“While on the suspension, we urge all members of staff and students not to deal with him on any official matters. While on suspension, he should keep off the university,” he added.

Anangwe urged the university community to accord the acting VC support as she discharges her mandate.

With only six months left to the end of his first term in office, this will mark the fourth attempt by the council to send the VC parking.

In April, the university council sent Prof Kiama on compulsory leave for a third time.

In a letter, the council chairman Prof Anangwe said that the council resolved to send VC on leave effective April 19, 2024.

The Council appointed Prof. Ayub Njoroge Gitau, Dean Faculty of Engineering to act as the VC.

Prof. Kiama, however, defied the directive, terming it malicious and further alleging that no council meetings were convened to ratify the directives by the council.

The outgoing Education CS Ezekiel Machogu then weighed in on the issue restoring some form of calm to the institution after reading the riot act to the University Council.

The root of the push and pull has been an accusation that the VC violated his contract clause by failing to spend his leave days.

According to the contract, he should not exceed 90 accumulated leave days.

However, it has emerged that he has accumulated more than 100 leave days with his first term set to end in January 2025.

And on Friday, Anangwe noted that the VC had previously not gone on leave for 210 days against the regulation which requires that no staff should have more than 90 days pending leave days.

As the council suspended prof Kiama, chaos erupted at the university as students protested to demand the ouster of the VC.

Led by the University of Nairobi Students Association President Madzao Rocha said the university needs fresh blood in its leadership.

“If the vice chancellor cannot deliver we have no other option but to ensure he gets out. We cannot continue to pay the exorbitant amount of fees with poor services we are getting,” Rocha said.

The students chanting anti-Kiama slogans unsuccessfully attempted to gain entry into the building.

“We pay Sh42,000 for hostels against the previous charges of Sh6,000. We are living in a hostel similar to dogs’ cages without sanitary facilities. The VC has outlived his tenure; we want him to out. Kiama must go,” said Rocha.

In September, the University of Nairobi council dismissed the VC’s decision to return to work, putting his six-month sabbatical on hold.

The council in a letter dated September 22, affirmed that it had not approved the VC to return to work thus his sabbatical is still active and further barred him from discharging duties of the VC effective September 25.

Kiama had on July 28 sought a six-month sabbatical after falling out with the council.