Education Cabinet Secretay Julius Ogamba has revoked the appointment of Prof Amukoa Anangwe as the chairperson of the University of Nairobi (UoN) Council, effective February 21, 2025.
The revocation of Prof. Anangwe’s appointment follows pressure from different stakeholders accusing him of mismanagement, staff interreference and conflict of interest.
Some of the stakeholders who had accused Prof. Anangwe of the vices including, but not limited to, the Universities Academic Staff Union (UAS), and the National Assembly’s Education Committee.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 36(1)(a) of the Universities Act, 2012 as read together with Section 51(1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Education revokes the appointment of Amukowa Anangwe (Prof.) as the Chairperson of the Council of the University of Nairobi, with effect from February 21, 2025,” Ogamba said in a Gazette Notice dated February 21.
On Wednesday, February 19, UASU had issues a seven-day ultimatum to the government to remove Prof. Anangwe. The lecturers had accused him of encroaching on the Vice-Chancellor’s (VC) role, taking over key decision-making functions, which they say has created confusion and undermined governance at the institution.
“Prof. Anangwe is behaving as if he is the Vice-Chancellor. He has been unilaterally issuing transfer letters, extending staff contracts at his personal whim, and sitting in internal interviews. This blatant overreach is unacceptable,” said UASU UoN Chapter Secretary Dr. Maloba Wekesa.
They also accused him of disregarding directives from the Chief of Staff and the Head of Public Service, which outline the separation of powers between the University Council and management.
Failure by the government to remove him within the seven day period, the lecturers said, would have led to an industrial action, disrupting learning at the university.
