Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has revoked the appointment of Amukowa Anangwe as the Chairperson of the University of Nairobi (UoN) Council. The decision, which was officially communicated through a Gazette Notice on friday, is rooted in the provisions of the Universities Act, 2012, alongside the Interpretation and General Provisions Act.
According to the notice, Ogamba exercised his powers under Section 36 (1) (a) of the Universities Act, 2012, in conjunction with Section 51 (1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, to terminate his appointment.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 36 (1) (a) of the Universities Act, 2012, as read together with Section 51 (1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Education revokes the appointment of Amukowa Anangwe (Prof.) as Chairperson of the Council of the University of Nairobi, with effect from February 21, 2025,” the notice stated.
The revocation comes at a time when the University of Nairobi has been facing unrest among its academic staff. Just days before his dismissal, UoN lecturers had issued a strike threat, calling for the dissolution of the council. Their demands were aimed at reforming governance structures to enhance efficiency and effectiveness at the institution. The lecturers argued that the council had failed to address their grievances adequately, which included issues related to remuneration, promotions, and general working conditions.
The Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) had jointly petitioned the government to intervene, stating that failure to address their concerns would lead to industrial action, effectively paralyzing learning at the institution. This mounting pressure is believed to have played a role in Ogamba’s decision to dismiss Anangwe.
The move to revoke his appointment signals the government’s willingness to respond to demands for reforms within public universities. However, the effectiveness of this action in resolving the lecturers’ grievances remains uncertain. It is yet to be seen whether the government will make further changes to the university’s leadership or introduce new measures to address concerns raised by the academic staff.
As the situation unfolds, stakeholders in the education sector will be keenly observing the next steps by the Ministry of Education. The appointment of a new UoN Council Chair will be a critical decision that could shape the future governance of one of Kenya’s premier universities.
