Kenyatta University has officially appointed Professor John Okumu as its substantive Vice Chancellor, ending months of uncertainty over the leadership of one of Kenya’s largest public universities.
The appointment, announced on Monday, July 27, by Kenyatta University Council Chairperson Clara Momanyi, takes effect immediately following a competitive recruitment process conducted by the Public Service Commission (PSC).
Momanyi said the appointment was made in line with the Universities Act and received the concurrence of the Cabinet Secretary for Education.
“In exercise of the provisions of Section 35(1)(a)(v) of the Universities Act and with the concurrence of the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education, the University Council is pleased to inform you that it has appointed Prof. John Okumu as the substantive Vice Chancellor of Kenyatta University with immediate effect,” she said.
According to the statement issued by the University Council that Professor Okumu has been the highest ranked applicant in the recruitment process conducted by the Public Service Commission, hence the appointment as the chief executive of the university.
The appointment ends more than six months of transition period following the retirement of the previous vice chancellor, Professor Paul Wainaina, who worked in the position for eight years until he retired this year.
Professor Okumu has been heading the university since the retirement of Professor Wainaina as the vice chancellor. He has occupied different high managerial positions within the university over the years, among them the position of Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs.
The appointment follows the months of legal battles that led to the delay of recruiting the substantive vice chancellor of the university.
It all started when in April 2026, the High Court put on hold the recruitment process following a petition that had been brought against the process of recruiting the vice chancellor.
The suit was filed by Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Professor Waceke Wanjohi, who stated that she was the candidate with the highest marks during the interview held by the Public Service Commission in March 2026.
Wanjohi argued that despite scoring high marks in the interviews, she had not been considered while another candidate had been picked. She was seeking orders from the court for the Ministry of Education to make available the marks of the interview of the candidates.
With Professor Okumu taking up the post, it will be expected that he outlines his agenda for the university as he takes up the over the reins at a time when public universities continue to grapple with funding pressures, governance reforms and efforts to improve the quality of higher education.
