Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Paul Wainaina is on leave, effective April 15, 2024.
Consequently, the University Council appointed the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) Academics, Professor Waceke Wanjohi as the Acting Vice-Chancellor during his absence.
The VC made the announcement in an internal memo to the university community. However, the memo did not indicate his return date from the leave.
“Following consultations with the University Council, I wish to notify the university community that I will be proceeding on annual leave with effect from 15th April 2024,” reads the memo in part.
The university held a handover ceremony where the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Wainaina passed the instruments of power to Prof. Waceke.
The VC appealed to all students to extend their unwavering support to the Acting Vice-Chancellor as she assumes the responsibilities of the Vice-Chancellor’s office.
“The purpose of this memo is to request all students to accord the Acting Vice- Chancellor utmost support as she takes up her duties in the office of the Vice-Chancellor and steers this University to greater heights,” said Wainaina.
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Professor Wainaina tenure at Kenyatta University
Professor Wainaina was reinstated as the University’s Vice-Chancellor in November 2022, following his dismissal as the University’s VC in August 2022.
His dismissal came after he opposed the former regime’s plan to undertake the construction of the World Health Organization hub on the institution’s land.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta had lashed out at the VC for disregarding his directive saying that public institutions were not private property.
“Property whether its statehouse where I stay for the next few weeks or its university or hospital, this is the property of Kenyan people held in trust by the government of Kenya. This way we try and adopt a whole government approach,” Uhuru stated.
“We don’t operate in silos so that someone holds on to something as if it’s their personal property. He or she doesn’t know that his or her day is counted just like mine.”
The process of appointing VC’s
The appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of a public university in Kenya is the responsibility of the Education Cabinet Secretary.
The CS makes the appointments after a rigorous process that includes interviews conducted by the Public Service Commission.
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In this case, the appointment of Prof. Waceke as the Acting Vice-Chancellor was made by the University Council in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary.
The new VCs are expected to undergo training on key areas such as procurement, financial management, and people management before taking up their roles. Wainaina took over from Prof. Olive Mugenda, the current chair of the board of the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital (KUTRRH).
