Editor's Review

The resolution to send Kiama on leave was made during a meeting held on Friday, April 19.

The University of Nairobi (UoN) Council has sent UoN Vice-Chancellor Professor Stephen Kiama on compulsory leave pending his exit from office.

In an internal memo seen by Nairobileo.co.ke, the UoN council chairman Professor Amukoa Anangwe said the resolution to send Kiama on leave was made during a meeting held on Friday, April 19.

The UoN council appointed the Dean of Faculty of Engineering Professor Ayub Njoroge Gitau as the acting Vice-Chancellor.

“The Council resolves that the Vice Chancellor prof. Stephen Kiama Gitahi proceeds on leave effective April 19, 2024. That Prof. Ayub Njoroge Gitau, Dean of Faculty of Engineering is appointed to act as the Vice Chancellor with effective from Friday April 19, 2024,” read the memo in part.

The council urged the UoN fraternity to support Professor Gitau in his new role as the acting VC in the institution.

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“The University fraternity is called upon to support Professor Ayub Njoroge Gitau as he discharges how new responsibility as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi,” the memo added.

File image of UoN VC Stephen Kiama.

On July 7, 2023, the council approved Kiama's request to proceed on a six-month leave with effect from August 1, 2023.

The council then appointed the DVC in charge of Academic Affairs Professor Julius Ogeng’o as acting VC in Kiama’s absence.

However, a month later, Kiama cut short his leave and resumed duty as VC on September 1, 2023.

The UoN council in a letter on September 22, 2023, directed Kiama to resume his six-month leave noting he was deemed to be still on leave and should not discharge duties of his office.

"Your letter referenced under the rubric, "notice of resumption of duty", that was addressed and delivered to the chair of the council September 1, 2023, at about 5 pm, when you had already spent the day visiting campuses and discharging duties in the vice chancellor's office without prior variation/cancellation of your six-month leave by the council was unprocedural, untenable and not acceptable to the council, “the UoN council stated.