UoN Council fires Prof Stephen Kiama

 

Prof Stephen Gitahi Kiama

The University of Nairobi Council has announced the termination of Vice Chancellor Prof. Stephen Kiama's tenure.

The communication was made by the Council chair, Prof Amukowa Anangwe, via a memo dated October 14, 2024.

“The Council wishes to inform the university community that Prof Stephen Gitahi Kiama's services as an employee of the University of Nairobi were terminated effective September 27, 2024,” Anangwe said.

He did not divulge the reasons behind the termination of Kiama’s tenure of service, but stated that “reasons for his termination were promptly communicated to him.”.

Kiama was appointed the UoN Vice Chancellor on January 5, 2020, on a five-year term, taking over from Prof Isaac Mbeche who had been serving as VC in an acting capacity since July 2019, when Prof Peter Mbithi was sent on compulsory leave.

Prior to his appointment, Prof Kiama was serving as the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Human Resource and Administration and the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor in-charge of Finance, Planning and Development.

An accomplished scholar with a track record in formulating and managing academic programs and supervising and mentoring Postgraduate students, Kiama was first employed by the University of Nairobi upon graduation in 1990 as an assistant lecturer of Veterinary Anatomy.

He rose through the ranks to become a lecturer in 1995, a senior lecturer in 2002, an associate professor in 2012 and Professor in 2016.

His tenure as the Vice Chancellor has been dotted by controversies that saw the university council send him on compulsory leave twice, latest being on May 21, 2024.

Kiama had barely a month earlier dismissed a similar decision, which Prof Anangwe said in a memo followed a meeting held on April 19, 2024.

“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,” the memo read in part.

Kiama, however, dismissed the communiqué and urged staff and students to ignore it.

He said the matter had elicited a lot of publicity and could potentially lead to apprehension by both staff members and students.

“In the meantime, I call on all of us to recommit to the task ahead of driving the university to a truly globally competitive university transforming society," Kiama said as he announced he would stay put.

On Friday, August 2, 2024, the council yet again issued another communiqué saying it had reached a decision to suspend Prof Kiama.

The council instructed Margaret Jesang Hutchinson to take over as acting vice-chancellor.

“During the council meeting on Friday, August 2, 2024, we resolved to suspend Vice-Chancellor Professor Stephen Kiama for three months,” Prof Anangwe said.

“While Professor Kiama is on suspension, all staff and students are instructed not to engage with him on official university matters,” he added.

The council accused Prof Kiama of insubordination, claiming he refused to take a 60-day leave as instructed by the university council.

Any further delay, the council chair said, “could lead to complications and undermine the integrity of the leave management system.”

“Previously, he had been granted a 60-day leave. However, he refused to take it. According to his contract, he should not accrue more than 90 leave days over the duration of the contract, but he has exceeded this limit,” Prof Anangwe said.

In the latest communication on the termination of Prof. Kiama’s tenure, Prof. Anangwe assured the university community that the council will at all times discharge its mandate within the confines of the law.

“The Council calls for individual and collective commitment to dedicated service in the pursuit of the university's vision and mission to our society, our country Kenya, and the world at large,” he said. 

by EMMANUEL WANJALA