Professor John Okumu has been confirmed as Kenyatta University’s substantive Vice Chancellor, taking charge at a time when the institution is trying to move past years of leadership disputes that overshadowed much of his predecessor’s time in office.
Prof Paul Wainaina spent eight years as Vice Chancellor, a period marked by repeated court battles as he fought to hold on to his position, leaving behind a university whose governance frequently made headlines for the wrong reasons.
Prof Okumu had been serving in an acting capacity since January 2026, following Wainaina’s departure. During that time, he presided over Kenyatta University’s 59th graduation ceremony on July 17, attended by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, his first graduation ceremony as acting VC.
Kenyatta University Council Chairperson Prof Clara Momanyi presided over the confirmation ceremony on Monday, where Prof Okumu struck a confident tone, thanking the Council for its trust in him and promising visionary, inclusive and transformative leadership that would protect the university’s academic standards.
“I am deeply honoured by the confidence the University Council has placed in me. I am committed to leading with humility, integrity and openness as we work together to strengthen Kenyatta University’s position as Kenya’s premier university and a globally competitive institution,” Prof Okumu said.
Prof Momanyi said she was confident that Okumu’s extensive academic and administrative background would build on the university’s established reputation in teaching, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and community engagement.
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Prof Okumu takes over as Kenyatta University works to strengthen its standing as one of Kenya’s leading higher learning institutions, while also contending with serious financial and operational pressures facing public universities more broadly.
His confirmation comes as these institutions continue to struggle with shrinking government funding, delayed disbursements from the Exchequer, and growing pressure from the State to raise more of their own revenue.
CS Ogamba acknowledged that Kenyatta University faces the same difficulties confronting most public universities- financial constraints, rising student numbers, and pressure to keep academic offerings relevant and of high quality.
He had earlier said the challenges reflect a wider crisis across Kenya’s public university sector, one the government intends to address through ongoing reforms.
He argued that universities can no longer limit themselves to awarding degrees, and must instead become centres of innovation capable of producing practical solutions to the country’s challenges. He added that academic programmes need to keep pace with the changing labour market, so that graduates leave university with skills that are both relevant and marketable.
For Prof Okumu, that leaves him with the task of balancing financial sustainability with maintaining academic excellence as he settles into the role.
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