PSC: Prof Ndemo's appointment as UoN VC above board

Public Service Commission (PSC) offices /FILE

The Public Service Commission has called on the University of Nairobi Council to expedite the resolution of the ongoing recruitment standoff for the position of Vice Chancellor.

In a statement issued Thursday, PSC vice chairperson Mary Kimonye urged the university to move swiftly and transparently to ensure stability and effective leadership at the institution.

“The University of Nairobi is a premier institution of higher learning in Kenya. It is imperative that the recruitment process for its vice chancellor is concluded without further delay to safeguard the university’s operations and reputation,” Kimonye said.

On May 5, the University Council, through its chair, Prof Amukowa Anangwe formally confirmed Prof Bitange Ndemo as the university's vice chancellor, to succeed Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Margaret Jesang Hutchinson upon completion of his diplomatic duties.

However, on May 9, Ndemo turned down the appointment, citing concerns over the procedural integrity of the appointment process.

In a statement on his LinkedIn account, Ndemo revealed that he was among five candidates shortlisted for the prestigious role and was one of three finalists following interviews conducted on March 21, 2025.

He claimed that he subsequently received an appointment letter dated May 5, 2025, from the council chair naming him as the incoming Vice Chancellor.

Ndemo, however, said, "I dissociate myself from this unprocedural process and have withdrawn my candidacy for the position."

The Professor of Entrepreneurship said the decision was informed by the fact that he sought proof from Prof Anangwe on the Education Cabinet Secretary's concurrence over the appointment, but he failed to provide it.

In her statement, Kimonye outlined the process for appointing a new vice chancellor, emphasising the importance of adhering to established legal and procedural frameworks.

According to Kimonye, the recruitment begins with the advertisement of the vacant position, followed by the receipt of applications from qualified candidates.

A selection panel then shortlists candidates based on merit and suitability.

“The panel will conduct rigorous interviews, evaluating each candidate’s academic qualifications, leadership experience, and vision for the university. This process must be transparent, fair, and in line with the values and principles of public service as set out in the Constitution,” Kimonye stated.

After the interviews, the panel is expected to forward the names of the most qualified candidates to the University Council.

The Council then deliberates and recommends the top candidate to the Cabinet secretary for Education for formal appointment.

Kimonye reiterated the PSC’s commitment to supporting the university in ensuring a credible and efficient recruitment exercise.

“We urge all stakeholders to cooperate fully and uphold the integrity of the process. The future of the University of Nairobi depends on strong, visionary leadership,” she said.

The PSC vice chairperson concluded by emphasising the need for the university to restore normalcy and public confidence.

“We trust that the University Council will act with urgency and responsibility to resolve this matter in the best interest of the institution and the nation,” Kimonye said.

In a statement on Wednesday, Prof Anangwe said concurrence from the CS, which was Ndemo's bone of contention, is not a must.

Anangwe said the council is the appointing authority of the vice chancellor and deputy vice chancellor, and the CS only plays a consultative role.

"The courts have pronounced themselves on what the notion of “consultation” means; it is not synonymous with concurrence," he said, citing a 2022 judgment.

“Consultation” does not give the consultee veto power over the decision, but it does not permit the consultor to disregard the input of the consultee without good reason," the court said.

Prof Anangwe said Ndemo requested him to issue him with the letter of appointment after initiating consultation with the Education CS, which he did.

The council chair added that he wrote to the CS on May 7 regarding Ndemo's appointment, but "to date, a response by the Cabinet Secretary has yet to be received.

Ananngwe explained that the letter is a demonstration that he undertook a consultative process with the CS as required, but the buck stopped with the CS.

He said, given the foregoing, the narrative that he did not pursue consultations with the CS over Ndemo's appointment "is patently false."

"Prof Ndemo wrote me a letter requesting the concurrence of the Cabinet Secretary, and I informed him of the ongoing consultative process, and he was fully aware of what was going on. What made him to change his mind suddenly in the wee hours of the night? It is upto him to tell Kenyans," he said.

Kimonye said the new PSC team, since coming into office in January this year, has expeditiously processed and cleared the backlog of 19 posts (out of 19 vacancies) in top management levels in public universities in record time.

These are Open University of Kenya, Garissa University, Pwani University, Technical University of Kenya, Multimedia University, Meru University of Science and Technology, Kisii University, Karatina University, Kaimosi University, Turkana University, Alupe University, Tharaka University, and University of Nairobi.

"With the exception of the University of Nairobi, the Commission has not witnessed any leadership disagreements in the appointments of the vice chancellors among the other universities whose recruitments have been processed and recommendations made to the respective University Councils, indicating the confidence and professionalism in the recruitment processes."

In a statement on Tuesday co-signed by council members Carren Omwenga and Ahmed Abdullahi, Prof Anangwe said Ndemo was yet to formally write to him rejecting his appointment.

"But as the chairperson of the Council, Prof Ndemo is the duly appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, unless he writes to me formally about his rejection, which he has yet to do," Anangwe affirmed.