Editor's Review

  • Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha has stopped implementation of proposed structural changes at the University of Nairobi until the Ministry issues an approval.

Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha has stopped the implementation of proposed structural changes at the University of Nairobi until the Ministry issues approval.

In a letter sent to all University Vice-Chancellors and College heads, Magoha noted that any such actions should be kept on hold until the Ministry communicates further.

According to Prof Magoha, reviewing an organizational structure of a public university is not bad, however, it must be done in accordance to set guidelines which entail getting approval from the Ministry.

“…Any action on the proposed changes should be kept in abeyance pending the relevant approvals and/or gazettement of the relevant instruments.

“Where proposed reviews necessitate amendments to Charter or Legal Notices the proposed amendments must be forwarded to the Ministry through the Commission for University Education before being gazetted by the CS,” Magoha’s letter read in part.


File image of Education CS Prof George Magoha. [Photo: Courtesy]

Prof Magoha urged the university to do a communication to his ministry explaining the importance of the proposed changes and how the same will be implemented without negatively affecting staff and other personnel.

Magoha’s letter comes a week after the University of Nairobi announced that it was conducting a re-organisation exercise that will lead to abolishing of 24 colleges.

The University also announced that it was looking at doing away with five offices of the Deputy Vice-Chancellors and replaces them with two Associate Vice Chancellors.

According to Prof Julia Ojiambo, the Chair of the University of Nairobi Council, the changes were meant to reduce bureaucracy and eliminate redundancy in the institution.

Meanwhile, UoN also recently announced plans to increase school fees for a number of courses. The announcement was met by harsh reactions from students who decried not being consulted.