Confusion As UoN VC Stephen Kiama Dismisses Council, Refuses To Go On Leave

• In September 2023, the University of Nairobi Vice-Chancellor Stephen Kiama ended abruptly his leave, claiming that the university had resolved the issues that made him go on leave
• On Monday, April 22, Kiama rubbished the statement by the council to extend his leave effective Friday, April 19
• The council, under the chairmanship of Amukoa Anangwe appointed the dean of students, Ayub Njoroge as the acting VC

The embattled University of Nairobi Vice-Chancellor Stephen Kiama has rubbished the news of his leave effective Friday, April 19.

In a communication shared by Kiama, he called upon the university community and students to ignore and focus on the prosperity of transforming the university to maintain a global level.

"I call upon all staff members and students to ignore the communication. In the meantime, I call on all of us to recommit to the task ahead of driving the university to a truly globally competitive university transforming society," he stated.

According to the memo, the university council under the chairperson Amukoa Anangwe, urged Kiama to proceed on leave effective Friday, April 19.

The council went on to appoint Ayub Njoroge, a sitting dean, as the acting VC.

Why did Kiama refuse to go on leave?

According to a report by Citizen TV, Kiama dismissed the statement, arguing that a dean currently in office, elected by faculty members, cannot be appointed as the VC.

"The council went against our University Charter, in appointing the dean of a faculty as the VC. Dean is usually elected by the academic staff in the faculty," he explained.

Why did Kiama abruptly end his leave?

In 2023, the university council settled on sending Kiama on a six-month compulsory leave and appointed Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Julius Ogengo as the acting VC.

The leadership confusion emerged seven months later, after the council proceeded to send Kiama on leave, who ended his leave suddenly in September 2023, stating that issues raised by the council had been resolved.

However, the council was against his early return, stating that his return was not procedural and not approved by the council.

The tussle has plunged the country's leading university into a leadership crisis, which has placed the university in the spotlight over the continued wrangles.

Kiama clears the air on relationship with council

After returning to work barely a month after being sent on six-month compulsory leave, the professor returned to the institution stating that he had emergency issues to deal with.

He, however, insisted that there was no conflict between him and the university council as he was also a member of the governing body.

Kiama vowed that he would vie for the vice-chancellor position again to finish the projects he had initiated at the varsity.

Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke