Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has inaugurated the new University of Nairobi (UoN) Council, calling on the members to foster teamwork, observe institutional boundaries, and avoid micromanagement of the university’s operations.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the University of Nairobi, CS Ogamba stressed the importance of proper governance structures, collaboration, and mutual respect among council members and the university’s management.
The newly constituted council will be chaired by Prof. Chacha Nyagoiti Chacha, a respected academic and experienced administrator. Prof. Chacha’s appointment is seen as a move to restore stability and credibility to the institution following a turbulent period under the previous council.
CS Ogamba issued a stern warning against the pitfalls that plagued the disbanded council, including overstepping its mandate, internal wrangles, and attempts to discipline university staff—actions he noted were beyond the council’s jurisdiction.
“Just do your job and don’t micromanage the management and staff of the university, as we saw with the previous team that purported to discipline staff and make such decisions,” said Ogamba.
He attributed the previous council’s failure to poor consultation, encroachment into management duties, and overall dysfunction, which severely undermined the university’s reputation and stalled critical partnerships.
The Cabinet Secretary also expressed concern over the staggering number of legal disputes involving the university, citing over 200 active court cases. He urged the new council to prioritize resolving these legal challenges to reduce strain on public resources and realign the institution with its core academic and research missions.
“Your first assignment is to examine these cases and see how to handle them, including compromises that could ease the burden off the university and the public so that it is back to doing its job,” he added.
CS Ogamba advised the council to seek legal guidance from the Office of the Attorney General to ensure all decisions are legally compliant and aligned with the university’s long-term interests.
As Kenya’s oldest and largest public university, the University of Nairobi now looks ahead to a new chapter of sound leadership and institutional recovery under the stewardship of the newly inaugurated council.
