Prof Amukoa Anangwe (centre), his lawyer Abdirazak Mohamed (right) and the University of Nairobi students address journalists outside Milimani Law Courts.
Prof Amukowa Anangwe taught political science at the University of Nairobi for many years. He, however, burst into the national limelight after dethroning veteran Butere MP Martin Shikuku “The People’s Watchman” in the 1997 elections.
President Daniel Moi promptly rewarded him with a Cabinet position.
Prof Anangwe’s political star has been flickering since losing the seat to Mr Wycliffe Oparanya in 2002.
When then-Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu picked Prof Anangwe from the political wilderness to chair the University of Nairobi Council in May 2023, he must have hoped the don would put matters to order at Kenya’s premier institution of higher learning, which had been plagued by instability and endless leadership wrangles.
The situation is murkier than ever two years since the appointment. The university has on many occasions been in the news for all the wrong reasons.
Mr Machogu, who has since left office, gave Prof Anangwe a new team, the then vice-chancellor is no longer there too, but governance problems persist, with the professor being the main actor.
Mr Machogu’s successor at the Ministry, Julius Migos Ogamba revoked the appointment of Prof Anangwe as the chairman of the UoN Council in February.
The professor quickly went to court and blocked his removal. The case is still pending.
On April 12, Mr Ogamba revoked the appointment of four other members of the council and appointed them to other universities. A case around the issue is also in court.
The university of Nairobi is embroiled in 16 court cases pitting the management, the council as well as the Universities Academic Staff Union.
The cases and counter-suits have led to the current situation where almost all the top managers are in acting capacity.
“I promise to end the problems at the UoN in a week. The fiasco has cost the university a lot of money. I keep getting calls on what is happening,” Mr Ogamba said at Dedan Kimathi University in Nyeri yesterday.
“One person is the cause of all these problems.”
Prof Anangwe began the job with gusto. Just three months in office, he sent then-VC Stephen Kiama on compulsory leave.
That was the genesis of a drawn-out war with Prof Kiama before the council finally pushed him out in September last year.
His replacement, Prof Margaret Jesang Hutchinson, has not known peace since and did not apply for substantive appointment when the position was advertised. She has also been sucked into the freshest wave of controversy at the university.
On Thursday night, the Prof Elijah Bitange Ndemo, who was one of those shortlisted for the VC position, issued a statement withdrawing candidacy.
Prof Ndemo dissociated himself from a process he said had not followed the law.
He said Prof Anangwe had written to inform him about the appointment.
The council chairman also appointed Prof Francis Mulaa the acting VC, but made no mention of Prof Hutchinson.
It created a situation of two acting VCs and one who was to assume substantive duties later.
Higher Education Principal Secretary, Beatrice Inyangala, issued a statement disowning Prof Anangwe’s actions yesterday morning.
She later issued another letter to Prof Mulaa, revoking his appointment as acting VC and reinstated Prof Hutchinson.
Dr Inyangala warned of unspecified disciplinary action against Prof Anangwe.
Prof Mulaa had already assumed the role and even presided over a students’ recognition award ceremony at Taifa Hall on the main campus.
He was being addressed as acting VC before the axe fell.
“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 on any of the purported appointments,” the PS said in her statement.
“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 issuing of the purported letters of appointment by the chairperson of the University of Nairobi Council.”
Dr Inyangala condemned the actions of Prof Anangwe, saying they are “a clear usurpation of the role of the council”, adding that violations would not be tolerated.
In the letter dismissing Prof Mulaa’s appointment, Dr Inyangala said the recognised acting VC of the university remains Prof Hutchinson and that Prof Mulaa’s appointment by Prof Anangwe as acting Deputy VC (Academic Affairs) is also invalid.
“Take note, therefore, that any decisions you may have made in your purported acting capacity will be deemed null and void,” Dr Inyangala said.
“The foregoing violations of the law and any subsequent action predicated thereon shall not be condoned and will be dealt with in accordance with the law.”
By the time of going to press yesterday evening, Prof Anangwe had not responded to our enquiries on whether the council had held any meeting to approve the appointment of Prof Ndemo as VC and the number of members who attended.
We also sought to know the next course of action for the council regarding the appointment of a vice-chancellor following what happened on Friday.
Kenyans on social media were quick to react to the developments.
“Prof Amukowa Anangwe must be immediately removed as chairman of the Council of the University of Nairobi. He’s completely failed to lead Kenya’s iconic institution of higher learning. Our university lies in ruins. The man can’t even get right the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor!” said Prof Makau Mutua, President William Ruto’s adviser on constitutional matters.
