Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has cautioned the University of Nairobi Council against engaging in what he terms as ‘silly’ conflicts with the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Kiama, saying that such disputes are harmful to the university.
Mr Machogu, speaking at a dinner hosted by the new Chancellor of UoN, Prof. Patrick V. Verkooijen, on Tuesday, underscored that the government would not tolerate the ongoing disputes, which he believed had escalated beyond acceptable limits.
“Moving forward, we cannot allow individuals to overstep boundaries. If I have appointed you as a council member, and you are pursuing your own agenda, what do you expect? Chairman [Amukowa Anangwe], you’ve heard,” remarked the CS.
Mr Machogu criticized some Council members for prioritizing personal interests over the welfare of the university, urging collaboration with the VC to facilitate its transformation.
“We have clearly instructed that the Vice Chancellor and the University Council collaborate to achieve the goals and objectives set by the University of Nairobi,” he said.
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The university has been mired in leadership conflicts between the UoN Council and Prof. Kiama. Last month, the council ordered the VC to proceed on compulsory leave.
Additionally, the council halted Prof. Kiama’s recent administrative changes and instructed all the affected staff to revert to their previous positions.
The directive to place the Vice Chancellor on compulsory leave marked the third such action in less than six months.
Prof. Kiama, whose five-year term ends in January 2025, dismissed the directive, asserting his right to determine when to take leave.
He further contended that no council meeting had been convened to ratify the decision.
“Some of the communications you have seen do not necessarily represent the council’s resolutions; they are merely expressions of opinions,” Prof. Kiama clarified.
“When the council makes resolutions, they are communicated through the council’s secretary, who operates from the Vice Chancellor’s office,” he added.
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