Professor Elijah Bitange Ndemo has turned down his recent appointment as Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Nairobi, raising concerns over procedural irregularities and lack of formal approval from Kenya’s Ministry of Education.
In a public statement on Friday, Prof Ndemo, who is currently Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium, revealed that although he had participated in the selection process and emerged as one of the top three candidates following interviews on March 21, 2025, the process was marred by a lack of due process.
According to him, his appointment letter was issued by University Council Chairperson, Prof Amukowa Anangwe, on May 5, without the legally required concurrence of the Education Cabinet Secretary.
“I sought confirmation from the Chairman regarding the Minister for Education’s concurrence, as required by law. Prof Anangwe assured me that it was being addressed and that he had submitted the necessary documents an hour earlier,” Prof Ndemo said.
The former ICT Permanent Secretary said he was disturbed by the premature announcement of his appointment, including a public letter asking Prof Francis Mulaa to act as VC until Ndemo could assume the role. “I dissociate myself from this unprocedural process and have withdrawn my candidacy for the position,” he added.
The development comes barely a day after multiple media outlets reported that Prof Ndemo had been appointed to replace outgoing VC, Prof Stephen Kiama, with the appointment dated May 2 and said to be awaiting Council ratification.
Despite public congratulatory messages and wide coverage, Prof Ndemo emphasized his respect for legal procedures and constitutional governance, stating his decision was based on principle.
A respected academic and public servant, Ndemo is widely celebrated for his pioneering role in Kenya’s digital transformation, having spearheaded projects such as the TEAMS undersea fibre optic cable, Kenya Open Data Initiative, and Konza Technopolis.
As of press time, both the Ministry of Education and the University Council had yet to respond publicly to Prof Ndemo’s withdrawal or address concerns about the process that led to his appointment.
The incident has stirred debate around transparency and governance in Kenya’s public university appointments, with observers calling for clearer frameworks to guide such critical selections.
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