Businessman and former University of Nairobi (UoN) council member Joel Kibe has distanced himself from the ongoing controversy surrounding the irregular appointment of Daniel Brian Ouma Okeyo as Acting Chief Operations Officer at the institution.
Kibe, whose name appeared on a charge sheet circulating online, strongly denied any involvement in the matter, asserting that he was out of the country at the time the controversial decision was made.
According to a statement issued by his legal representatives, Mwaniki Gachoka & Co. Advocates, Kibe had traveled to Tokyo, Japan, for official business on April 12 and returned to Kenya on April 24, 2024. The firm provided documentation confirming his international travel, including boarding passes and immigration records, to support his claim.
“Our client has seen a charge sheet in circulation online, alleging that he, together with others, committed the said offence on the above date. We are instructed to inform you that Mr. Kibe was not in Kenya on 19th April 2024. He was, at the time, on official business in Japan,” the law firm said.
The development follows the arrest of four senior UoN officials by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over the appointment that allegedly flouted a court judgment delivered on April 8, 2024.
Those arrested include UoN Council Chairperson Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, the appointee Daniel Brian Ouma, and council members Dr. Ahmed Sheikh Abdullahi and Carren Kerubo Omwenga. The four were charged with abuse of office and presented in court, where they pleaded not guilty. Each was released on a cash bail of Sh500,000.
The case has sparked widespread attention due to its implications on governance within public institutions, particularly universities. Kibe’s legal team has urged the public to disregard any links associating him with the incident, reiterating that he had no role in the appointment process.
Investigations into the matter continue, with EACC expected to conduct further inquiries into the legality of the council’s actions.
