The Ministry of Education has dismissed the appointment of Prof Francis Jackim Mulaa as the acting vice chancellor of the University of Nairobi.
In a statement dated Friday, May 9, Higher Education PS Beatrice Inyangala noted that due procedure was not followed when making the appointment.
According to the PS, the institution ought to have consulted Education CS Julius Ogamba before making the appointment.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry of Education confirms that there were no consultations between the University of Nairobi Council and the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education on any of the purported appointments by the Chairperson of Council," read the statement in part.
"The Principal Secretary, State Department for Higher Education, sits on the University of Nairobi Council. We can therefore firmly confirm that no Council meeting was ever convened to discuss and make decisions on appointments at the University of Nairobi, prior to the issuance of the purported letters of appointment by the Chairperson of the University of Nairobi Council."
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Consequently, the ministry maintained that the current VC of the institution was Prof. Jesang Hutchinson.
Other leaders who were listed by the Ministry were Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) - Prof. Ayub Gitau; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Enterprise) - Prof. Francis Mulaa; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Human Resource and Administration) - Prof. John Demesi Mande; and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Finance, Planning and Development) - Prof. Jackson Maalu.
"The Ministry will work with all agencies and stakeholders to ensure that our institutions of higher education are managed in accordance with the edict of the law and in a manner that is consistent with principles of corporate governance," read the statement in part.
Notably, the drama revolving around the leadership changes began on Thursday after Prof Bitange Ndemo rejected his appointment as the VC. Mulaa had been appointed to act as the VS before Ndemo took over.
In his statement, he cited flaws in the procedure of the appointments.
"The announcement triggered a flood of congratulatory messages on social media. However, I dissociate myself from this unprocedural process and have withdrawn my candidacy for the position," Ndemo noted.
