Government bow to lecturers’ demands, sack Anangwe as UoN Council chair 

The government has bowed to lecturers’ demands and revoked Amukowa Anangwe’s appointment as the chairperson of the University of Nairobi Council has been revoked following strike threats.

Anangwe’s appointment was revoked on Friday February 21, 2025, by Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Ogamba, with immediate effect.

In a Gazette notice dates February 21, 2025, the CS said: “In exercise of the powers conferred by section 36 (1) (a) of the Universities Act, 2012 as read together with section 51 (1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Education revokes the appointment of – Amukowa Anangwe (Prof.) as the chairperson of the Council of the University of Nairobi, with effect from the 21st February, 2025.

The order comes days after the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) threatened to go on strike if Prof Anangwe was not sacked over alleged interference and sabotage of the varsity’s operations.

This week on Wednesday, UASU members issued a 7-day ultimatum demanding the removal of Anangwe as the chair of the council over alleged interference and sabotage of the varsity’s operations.

Led by the chairperson of the UoN chapter, Dr Richard Bosire, UASU asked the Education CS to send the council packing arguing that it was interfering with the operations of the university and urged the government to stop the acting Vice-Chancellor from actualising her responsibilities.

“We call upon you to take quick action because we are not ready to watch and see the university die before our eyes,” Bosire said during the press conference. According to Bosire, some influential government officials had hatched a plot to seize the university’s land, which hosts graduate apartments. The plot in question is situated next to Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) and near Hotel Boulevard along James Gichuru Road.

The Council later responded at the Union officials over the strike threats, accusing UASU of having ulterior motives for their quest. The university management alleged that UASU’s demand that Prof Amukowa be removed was merely a “diversionary tactic” aimed at paralysing the institution and derailing ongoing investigations involving some union officials involved in corruption.

“In the face of these challenges, some disgruntled elements who have benefitted illegally from the current status quo are resisting the necessary reforms in the university in order to perpetuate malpractice, corruption, and abuse of office. We urge the university staff to refrain from perpetuating strikes to disrupt the university’s progress,” John Orindi, Director of Corporate Affairs said in a statement.

“We strongly believe that the threats being issued belatedly are diversionary tactics intended to impede the transformation agenda of the University, and to protect certain individuals within the Union who are facing investigations for disciplinary actions related to allegations of financial impropriety,” he said.

Orindi also denied allegations levelled against Prof Anangwe, terming them ‘baseless’, as it outlined different roles of its organs including the Council, the chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor further emphasizing that any decisions made by the institution underwent all the lawful channels.