The University of Nairobi has officially appointed Prof Ayub Njoroge Gitau as its new Vice-Chancellor, ending a prolonged leadership uncertainty that has rocked the institution for years.
The appointment was approved during a special sitting of the university council held on Thursday, May 14, where members deliberated on key leadership changes at the countryโs oldest university.
In a statement released by the council, it stated that; โUniversity of Nairobi Council has, following consultations in a special sitting held on Thursday, May 14, 2026, made key leadership appointments ushering in a new era for the institutionโ.
According to the university council, these appointments have been made in order to restore stability in the institution. This is because for the last few years, the university has experienced many wrangles and leadership issues. These changes in leadership have caused the university a lot of problems such as poor leadership and academic performance of the students.
Apart from naming Prof Gitau as the new Vice-Chancellor of the university, the council has also named Prof Josiah Omollo Aduda as the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor responsible for Finance Planning & Development.
In addition, the council recognized Professor Margaret Jesang Hutchinson for her contribution to the position of the Acting Vice Chancellor during the transitional period.
Professor Gitau is taking charge at a trying time for the institution, since in the recent past, it has been plagued by numerous issues such as financial difficulties, managerial conflict, and welfare problems regarding students and staff alike.
The appointment of Professor Gitau comes barely one month following complaints from the University of Nairobi’s University Academic Staff Union (UASU) about the lack of substantive leadership in the institution.
In an interview with the press on April 13, union officials claimed that since September 2024, the Vice Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor offices have been vacant.
According to the lecturers, the extended acting leadership has undermined stability and effective management of university affairs.
Some of the leadership challenges at the university can be traced back to the controversial exit of former Vice-Chancellor Stephen Kiama.
Part of the crisis has also been linked to an ongoing power struggle between the university council and the Ministry of Education, after the ministry previously revoked appointments made by the council.f
