NAIROBI, Kenya, May 16 — The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers on Friday arrested University of Nairobi Council Chairperson, Prof Amukowa Anangwe, at Kisumu International Airport over his alleged role in the irregular appointment of the university’s Acting Chief Operations Officer.
The arrest is part of a wider investigation by the EACC into fraudulent recruitment practices at the institution, which has now implicated several high-ranking university officials.
Alongside Prof Anangwe, the Commission also arrested Dr Ahmed Sheikh Abdullahi and Carren Kerubo Omwenga — both members of the University Council — as well as Brian Ouma, who controversially served as the Acting Chief Operations Officer (COO).
According to EACC, Ouma was not qualified for the position and his appointment was deemed both irregular and fraudulent.
Investigators established that the University Council improperly conferred a benefit on him by passing a resolution that elevated him to the role, despite his lack of qualifications.
“The University of Nairobi Council improperly conferred a benefit on Mr. Brian Ouma by passing a resolution to appoint him as Acting Chief Operations Officer,” EACC said in a statement.
Abuse of office
The Commission forwarded its inquiry file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved charges of abuse of office against five Council members: Prof Amukowa Anangwe, Dr Ahmed Sheikh Abdullahi, Carren Kerubo Omwenga, Joel Kamau Kibe, and Dr Darius Mogaka Ogutu.
Ouma is also facing separate charges for the unlawful acquisition of public property amounting to Sh32.4 million — the total salary paid to him during his tenure as Acting COO.
EACC processed the arrested suspects at Integrity Centre Police Station in Nairobi and directed Joel Kamau Kibe and Dr Darius Mogaka Ogutu to present themselves immediately at its headquarters.
The Commission further revealed that additional investigations are underway into alleged embezzlement of public funds and irregular leasing of university-owned land by senior officials at the University of Nairobi.
This latest development deepens the governance crisis at Kenya’s premier public university, which has been rocked by internal power struggles, controversial appointments, and increasing scrutiny from government oversight bodies.
Anangwe’s Friday arrest came just a week after the Ministry of Education vowed unspecified action over what it termed as irregular and unilateral appointments at the university.
The ministry’s response was triggered by Prof Anangwe’s controversial decision to appoint Prof Francis Mulaa as both the substantive Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) and acting Vice-Chancellor—actions the ministry says contravened the Universities Act, 2012.
Irregular appointments
Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr Beatrice Inyangala, in a statement issued on May 9, condemned the appointments, accusing Prof Anangwe of usurping the role of the full university council and bypassing the necessary legal processes, including mandatory consultation with the Cabinet Secretary.
“The purported appointments as done by the Chairperson of the University of Nairobi Council are a clear usurpation of the role of the Council, contrary to the provisions of the law,” Inyangala stated at the time.
The appointments, communicated through letters dated May 5, also lacked the involvement of the wider council, in which the PS sits as a member.
The ministry underscored that the actions violated Section 35(1)(a)(v) of the Universities Act, which requires competitive recruitment through the Public Service Commission and consultation with the Cabinet Secretary for Education.
The controversy intensified after Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium, Prof Bitange Ndemo, declined his appointment as Vice-Chancellor, citing concerns about procedural irregularities.
In a public statement, Prof Ndemo said he had sought confirmation from Prof Anangwe on whether the Cabinet Secretary had given concurrence for his appointment but did not receive satisfactory assurance.
“I dissociate myself from this unprocedural process and have withdrawn my candidacy for the position,” Ndemo said.
While the Ministry of Education did not immediately disclose the specific measures it would take, it indicated that the actions by the UoN Council Chairperson “will form the basis for appropriate action in due course.”
The ministry stated that Prof Jesang Hutchinson remains the acting Vice-Chancellor, while Prof Ayub Gitau, Prof Francis Mulaa, and Prof John Demesi Mande continue to serve in their respective acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor roles as previously designated.
