Kenyatta University leadership row deepens over VC appointment

The university's VC position was declared vacant after the retirement of Professor Paul Wainaina.

The vacancy was declared in December 2025, and attracted candidates who were interviewed by the Public Service Commission (PSC) in the month of March this year.

Since January 2026, Professor John Okumu has been serving as the acting Vice Chancellor.

During this period, Professor Waceke Wanjohi, who is the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) in charge of Academic Affairs and was a top contender for the VC seat, filed a case in the High Court so as to stop the appointment activity.

She states that she has enough evidence showing that she is the candidate who scored the highest marks during the interviews, therefore qualifying her to occupy the VC position.

Professor Wanjohi alleges that there are upper hands from the Ministry of Education and the university leadership sabotaging the entire process.

The High Court, on the other hand, has suspended further progress of the appointment until the case presented by Professor Wanjohi has been fully resolved.

The court has also issued orders protecting Professor Wanjohi's current job.

This comes after the University Council declared in April that it will not renew her term as the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs once it expires in the month of July.

Professor Wanjohi claims these non-renewal and disciplinary actions are part of a plot to lock her out.

In an effort to finalize the recruitment before the court order, the Public Service Commission (PSC) had submitted the names of three shortlisted candidates to the University Council for final selection.

However, the legal freeze has put everything on hold. While the Council and PSC contend with the ongoing litigation, Professor Wanjohi maintains that her top marks are being deliberately hidden to favor other candidates.

All eyes are now glued on the University Council and the Ministry of Education to see whether they will obey the High Court order or if the leadership stalemate at the institution will deepen.