Students at the University of Nairobi (UoN) have welcomed the decision of the Governing Council to suspend their Vice Chancellor Prof. Stephen Kiama for three months.
The student leaders said the move by the council was long overdue, adding that Kiama did not care about the students’ welfare.
Speaking to the press, the students said that they will be seeking the audience of the acting VC Prof Margaret Hutchinson to issue their demands.
Some of the matters they want addressed by the acting VC include hiked accommodation fee, and the deplorable condition of the hostels.
Additionally, they demanded that their requests are actualized before the resumption of the following semester in September 2024.
“If it is necessary, we are going to occupy the corridors of each and every institution that is trying to subvert this institution.
“We have since realized that such characters do not care about the plight of students in this university the deplorable condition of the hostels and the hiked accommodation fee,” stated the student representative.
Also Read: UoN Suspends VC Stephen Kiama, Names Replacement
UoN Students Give Warning to those Going to Court
At the same time, the university students said that they were aware of an attempt by some individuals to try and overturn the decision made by the council to suspend the VC.
They have sent a warning to anyone who will go to court over the matter, stating that they would protests any such move.
“We are aware of the fact that some individuals would like to use the courts to subvert the decision made by the governing council. We are tired and we ask the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) to act in public interest,” they added.
Instead, they have asked that pending investigations on the VC should be done while he is at home to avoid any disruptions in their learning at the institution.
“If there is any issue to be sorted, let them be sorted when those who have been suspended are at home, while the university remains in sanity, should anyone use the court to do away with the decision made by the council, we shall flood the gates of those courts,” added the students.
Also Read: UoN VC Standoff: New Twist as Council Clarifies Prof Kiama’s Leave
VC Kiama Suspended
Following a council meeting on Friday, August 2, a decision was made to suspend Kiama. The council said that he had failed to meet requirements to be appointed for a second term.
Consequently, the Council appointed Professor Margaret Hutchinson as acting VC.
Prof. Stephen Kiama’s woes started back on September 2023, when he abruptly cut short his leave and resumed duties earlier than anticipated.
The unexpected saga unfolded after the UoN Council approved Prof. Kiama’s request for a six-month leave, starting from August 1, 2023, to exhaust his leave days as per his contract and in light of another circular from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) addressed to all universities.
Later on, April 19, 2024, the council sent Professor Kiama on a compulsory leave while at the same time appointing Prof. Ayub Njoroge Gitau as the acting Vice Chancellor.
However, Kiama later disowned the communication regarding his purported leave, terming it as unofficial.
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