The removal of Prof. Stephen Kiama as Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi (UoN) has been a complex and highly contentious affair, marked by internal power struggles and external political interference.
Central to his ouster were key figures such as Acting VC Margaret Jesang Hutchinson and Chief Operations Officer Brian Ouma, whose roles in the events leading to his suspension were significant.
Brian Ouma’s involvement in securing police presence during a council meeting where Kiama was suspended indicates the intensity of the internal conflict.
Reports suggest that Ouma also allegedly hired personnel to forcibly remove Kiama from his office, demonstrating the extent to which university leadership sought to assert control.
On the other hand, Margaret Hutchinson was swiftly appointed as Acting VC following Kiama’s suspension, which was framed as part of a disciplinary process over claims of insubordination and gross misconduct.
Prof. Kiama, however, has refused to step down quietly. In multiple public statements, he dismissed the directive sending him on compulsory leave, urging staff and students to disregard the communication.
He emphasized that the move was illegal and an attempt to destabilize the university’s operations. Kiama has consistently accused the council of acting beyond its mandate, especially with its decision to suspend him while his contract was nearing expiration.
Kiama’s pushback also came amid political support from figures like Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has publicly condemned the university council’s actions as politically motivated.
Gachagua’s involvement has introduced a political dimension to the academic dispute, making the situation even more volatile.
The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has also sided with Kiama, criticizing the council’s lack of transparency and warning that its actions could lead to instability at the institution.
They have urged the council to reinstate Kiama, while also voicing concerns about the impact on university operations, such as delays in staff salaries.
Kiama’s removal is deeply intertwined with university politics, council power struggles, and external political interference, making it a multifaceted and unresolved crisis at the University of Nairobi.
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