Senior University of Nairobi Council officials detained over abuse of office

Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have arrested four top officials from the University of Nairobi over the irregular appointment of Daniel Brian Ouma Okeyo as Acting Chief Operations Officer.

Those taken into custody include the University Council Chairperson, Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, Daniel Brian Ouma, and council members Dr. Ahmed Sheikh Abdullahi and Carren Kerubo Omwenga.

According to Citizen Digital, the four are facing abuse of office charges linked to Ouma’s controversial appointment, which went against a court ruling issued on April 8, 2024.

Prof. Anangwe was arrested by EACC detectives at Kisumu International Airport and flown to Nairobi for questioning at the Integrity Centre.

According to the EACC, the suspects bypassed the university council’s authority and ignored a directive from former University of Nairobi Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Kiama, before proceeding to appoint Ouma as Chief Operations Officer.

Ouma is accused of forging academic credentials and illegally earning over Ksh. 32 million in salaries between 2015 and 2025.

This amount reflects payments made while he held various roles, including Deputy Director in charge of Fundraising, Donor Relations and Partnerships, Director of University Advancement, and acting COO—positions the commission says he was not qualified to occupy.

The individuals involved are currently being processed at the EACC headquarters ahead of their expected arraignment in court later today.

The University of Nairobi Council is facing backlash for defying an advisory issued by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) concerning Brian Ouma’s appointment, despite the commission having raised concerns over the authenticity of his academic credentials.

In July last year, the Council appointed Ouma as Acting Chief Operations Officer, entrusting him with the oversight of all non-academic administrative functions and day-to-day management of the university.

However, the EACC flagged the position as irregular and demanded that the appointment be rescinded.

In a formal communication to the Council, the commission revealed that Ouma’s academic qualifications were questionable, specifically citing his Bachelor of Philosophy degree from Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, which it said is not recognised in Kenya.

"The appointment of Brian Ouma as Acting COO is irregular. The degree certificate he presented from Pontifical Urbaniana University is not recognised in Kenya," the EACC stated in its letter to the Council.

The Commission for University Education (CUE) backed the EACC's findings, confirming that the said university lacks accreditation in Kenya, thereby invalidating its degrees locally.

Despite these red flags, the University extended Ouma’s contract by another six months, insisting that the EACC furnish it with all relevant evidence to ensure that due process and fair administrative justice are observed.