Kibabii University has issued a statement clarifying reports about the appointment of the new vice chancellor.
In a statement dated July 15, 2026, the university dismissed claims that it has appointed a new chancellor and clarified that Professor Ipara Odede remains in office.
The university said the information shared online was inaccurate and urged students, staff, stakeholders, and members of the public to rely on official communication channels.
University Denies Reports of New Vice Chancellor Appointment
In its statement addressing the growing speculation, Kibabii University said the University Council had not appointed a new Vice Chancellor, as alleged in reports circulating on social media platforms.
The university noted that leadership changes at the institution are communicated through formal channels and that any claims to the contrary should be treated as false and misleading.
“The University has noted with concern information circulating on social media regarding the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor. We wish to clarify that the University Council has not appointed a new Vice Chancellor. The current substantive Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Ipara Odeo, remains in office and continues to discharge his official duties,” the statement read in part.
The clarification comes after information circulated on social media about the university appointing a new chancellor.
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In Kenya, the appointments of heads of higher education institutions are announced through a gazette notice.
Prof. Isaac Ipara Odeo Continues Leading University Affairs
The university confirmed that Professor Isaac Odeo continues serving as the substantive Vice Chancellor of Kibabii University.
Kibabii University has advised Members of the public, staff, students, and stakeholders to rely on the institution’s official communication channels.
“Members of the public, staff, students, and stakeholders are advised to disregard any rumours or misleading information to the contrary and rely only on official communication issued by the University,”read the statement.
A source speaking to The Kenya Times on condition of anonymity revealed that the university had planned to hold a farewell event for Professor Isaac Odeo on Friday. However, no information on leadership changes was communicated during the Senate meeting.
Reports indicated that Prof. Odeo is expected to retire at the end of the month, although the university has not issued official communication on the matter.
Who is Professor Isaac Odeo?
Prof Isaac Odeo is the first and a long-serving Vice Chancellor of Kibabii University (KIBU), having held the position since 2016.
Prior to his appointment in 2016, he served as Acting Vice Chancellor and the Principal of Kibabii University College from 2013.
Isaac is a professor of Kiswahili at Kibabii, focusing on Kiswahili language and literature education, with over 30 years of teaching experience at institutions of higher learning.
Additionally, he has taught and conducted research in pedagogy, translation, oral literature, language contact phenomena, language and new communication technologies, and sociolinguistics and higher education.
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Isaac holds a bachelor’s degree in education (Arts) from the University of Nairobi (UoN), a master’s in education (Arts) from Kenyatta University, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Moi University.
In 2023, he received the Vice Chancellor of the Year Award at the Champions of Governance (COG) Awards.
Isaac Odeo has also secured significant research funding from the European Union and the National Research Fund (NRF) to establish KIBU as an ICT Hub.
Under his leadership, KIBU has graduated over 12,000 alumni and established specialized units, including the School of Nursing and an Innovation and Incubation Hub.
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