A leadership standoff at the University of Nairobi – UoN has taken a new turn following the unexpected return of the Vice Chancellor Prof Stephen Kiama who had proceeded on leave.
According to the Council, it did not sanction the return of Prof Kiama to the office, after appointing Prof. Julius Ogeng’o as the acting VC from August 1.
Kiama wrote a letter on September 1, indicating his return to the institution after being away for only three weeks, which the Council Chair Prof Amukowa Anagwe, dismissed.
In a letter dated September 22, Prof Anangwe stated that a July 31 Council resolution granting Kiama leave had not been revoked.
In his communication, Anangwe said the letter by Kiama was written and submitted after VC already spent the day visiting campuses and discharging duties in the vice chancellor’s office without prior variation or cancelation of his six months leave by the council.
“Therefore, you are still deemed to be on the said leave and thus you must not discharge the duties of the vice chancellor with effect from September 25 until your leave lapses,” the letter reads.
However, on Friday last week, Kiama and Anangwe shared a podium during the graduation ceremony held at the institution.
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“The directive (by the Chief of Staff) inevitably conflates with the Council resolution of July 31 and, whose concurrent effect is to require you to comply with both until your accumulated leave of 161 days is exhausted,” University of Nairobi Council chair Prof Anangwe said.
Compulsory leave for Civil Servants
The Council letter to Kiama also refers to the Head of Public Service’s directive, which ordered all government officials with accumulated leave days to go on leave and imposed a hold on the conversion of leave days to money.
Kiama requested a six-month sabbatical on July 28 after a disagreement with the council.
However, the council did not present grounds for the leave that went beyond the mandatory requirement.
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In a letter dated August 31, the VC stated that the concerns that had led to his decision to step down from university leadership had been sorted out.
“This is to inform you that the Council of the University of Nairobi, during its special meeting on 31st July 2023, approved the Vice Chancellor’s request dated 28th July 2023 to proceed on leave for a period of six months with effect from 1st August 2023,” UoN’s Office of the VC Director of Corporate Affairs John Orindi said.
“In the absence of the Vice Chancellor, the Council appointed Prof. Julius Ogeng’o to discharge the duties of the office of the Vice Chancellor in acting capacity effective 1st August 2023,” Orindi added.
