MPs investigate leadership wrangles at University of Nairobi

MPs expressed concerns about the absence of substantive office holders in key positions, including the Vice Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor. [File, Standard]

MPs are investigating the leadership challenges facing the University of Nairobi.

National Assembly Education Committee chairperson Julius Melly said they will investigate the council’s operations that have caused chaos in the institution.

After meeting the council, Mr Melly said members of the university were not prepared and issued seven days to avail documents that will aid in their investigations.

“We felt as a committee of education that because the council alluded that they didn’t have enough time to prepare, we have agreed that we are giving them up to next Thursday when we are going to meet,” said Melly, who is also the Tinderet Member of Parliaments.

The university council did not provide documents requested by the MPs including human resource manuals used for management of staff.

Pending bills

MPs also want the number of students, faculty members and support staff, approved budgets and status of disbursement for 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 financial years.

They also want pending bills and status of the management team. This includes university vice chancellor, heads of directorates, and recruitment of senior university staff.

MPs also expressed concerns about the absence of substantive office holders in key positions, including the Vice Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor. They questioned the university council’s reliance on acting officials, which contravenes the human resources regulations limiting acting appointments to six months.

However, the session ended prematurely after the committee adjourned in on grounds that the council was not adequately prepared. 

“This is illegal, as per the HR instruments of the republic, that you can only act for at most six months. But most of them are acting, and some of them have been sent on compulsory leave without due processes,” Melly said. 

On Tuesday, members of the University and Academic Staff Union (UASU) UoN chapter called for disbandment of the university council. On October 15, the university council announced the termination of Prof Stephen Kiama as the university Vice Chancellor and also as a professor of the institution.

The decision resulted in a backlash after a session of MPs led by Mukurwe-ini MP John Kagucia and Geoffrey Wandeto of Tetu openly challenged the council’s decision, raising concerns about its legality and the implications it has for the university.

They emphasised importance of allowing Prof Kiama to complete his term, which is set to expire on January 5, 2025.