Kenyatta University Entrance/File
The High Court has barred Kenyatta University from appointing a new Vice Chancellor following a contested leadership process at the institution.
The orders were issued following an urgent application by Professor Waceke Wanjohi, the university’s Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, contesting the handling and outcome of the Vice Chancellor recruitment process.
“That the leave hereby granted shall operate as a temporary injunction barring the respondents… from filling the position of Vice Chancellor, Kenyatta University, or appointing any other person than the applicant,” Justice Njoki Mwangi ordered.
The professor initiated judicial review proceedings against the Cabinet Secretary for Education, the Public Service Commission, the Office of the Attorney General, and the university council.
Court records show that she is challenging the outcome and handling of interviews conducted in March 2026 for the Vice Chancellor position.
She claims that she emerged the top candidate following a competitive recruitment process but alleges that the relevant authorities have failed to act on the interview panel’s recommendations.
"The interviewing panel recommended the appointment of the applicant (Waceke) as Vice Chancellor, Kenyatta University, but this notwithstanding the Applicant is unaware of any steps taken by the 1st, 3rd or 4th Respondents to act upon the said recommendation," her court papers state.
Instead, she claims that the university council and the Public Service Commission initiated disciplinary proceedings against her, a move she says risks derailing her candidacy.
In her case, Wanjohi is seeking orders of mandamus to compel the Education Cabinet Secretary to implement the panel’s recommendations and release the interview results, including candidates’ scores.
She also wants the court to prohibit the appointment of any other candidate and halt disciplinary proceedings against her.
She further seeks to quash a decision contained in a letter dated April 16, 2026, allegedly authorising disciplinary action. Justice Mwangi’s interim orders also suspended any disciplinary proceedings against Wanjohi.
“THAT the leave hereby granted shall operate as a stay of any and all Disciplinary Proceedings… pending the hearing and determination of these proceedings,” the judge directed.
The court gave Wanjohi 14 days from April 23, 2026, to file and serve the substantive motion and set the matter for mention on May 20, 2026. In her filings, Wanjohi argues that the actions taken against her violate her constitutional right to a fair hearing under Article 50.
"Every person has the right to have any dispute that can be resolved by the application of law decided in a fair and public hearing before a court or, if appropriate, another independent and impartial tribunal or body," she states, citing the Constitution.
She warns that unless the court intervenes, the dispute risks being rendered academic.
“If the Applicant is unfairly shut out of the position, the substance of this dispute… will be permanently alienated… rendering these proceedings nugatory,” the application adds.
The ruling effectively freezes the succession process at the university, leaving the top leadership position in limbo until the dispute is resolved.
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