CS Ogamba revokes UoN Council appointments, reassigns officials
These changes come in the wake of growing pressure over governance concerns at the University of Nairobi.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has removed four members of the University of Nairobi Council as part of a response to the leadership crisis that has rocked the institution in recent months.
In a gazette notice dated April 11, 2025, Ogamba revoked the appointments of Sally Ngeringwony Toroitich, Ahmed Sheikh Abdullahi, Dr. Parmain Ole Narikae, and Carren Kerubo Omwenga.
The revocation takes effect immediately.
The four have now been appointed to serve in the councils of other public universities.
Toroitich has joined the University of Embu Council, Dr. Narikae has been moved to the University of Eldoret, Omwenga has been placed at Karatina University, and Abdullahi will now serve on the Council of Mama Ngina University College.
Each of the appointments runs from April 11, 2025, to May 22, 2026.
These changes come in the wake of growing pressure over governance concerns at the University of Nairobi.
In February, the Ministry of Education cancelled the appointment of Prof. Amukowa Anangwe as the Council chair, shortly after protests by the University Academic Staff Union (UASU), who accused him of interfering with operations.
Dr. Richard Bosire, the UASU chair at the University of Nairobi, led the union in issuing a seven-day ultimatum to the government, demanding the immediate removal of the Council.
He said the Council was blocking the acting Vice-Chancellor from performing her duties and accused it of stalling key functions at the university.
"We call upon CS Migos Ogamba to take quick action because we are not ready to watch and see the university die before our eyes," Bosire stated.
The union further claimed that unnamed government officials were targeting a piece of university land located near Hotel Boulevard, opposite the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, with plans to take it over.
The Council responded by accusing the union of trying to protect members facing investigations and of attempting to sabotage reforms at the university.
It described the threats of a strike as a ploy to derail the university’s ongoing restructuring efforts.