NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 1 — University of Nairobi Vice Chancellor Prof. Stephen Kiama returned to office on Friday cutting short a six-month sabbatical announced by the University Council in August.
Prof. Kiama’s return came hours after UoN’s teaching staff demanded his immediate reinstatement following a puzzling departure on August 1.
A source confirmed that he was back in office days after he attended the inauguration of UoN’s Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies.
Prof Kiama’s office later confirmed his return in a tweet.
Kiama’s surprise leave that started in early August 2023 sparked a major controversy at the university where the students union and some lecturers raised concerns.
The University of Nairobi Students Association (UNSA) protested the decision by the University council to send the Vice-Chancellor on leave.
The association’s President Monica Malith said in a statement that no sufficient information was given to the students or their leaders concerning the said leave and urged the council to recall the VC.
“The deliberate course of action taken up by the University Council led by the Chair Dr. Amukowa Anangwe:- to whose effect Prof Kiama’s application request for leave was approved was wrong and untimely,” she said.
She said the Vice Chancellor’s absence was likely to compromise some of the key activities lined up at the university.
“The University is readying itself for two graduation ceremonies, resumption from recess, admission of the first year class of 2023, and the implementation of the New Universities Funding Model, and hence the leave the VC took was untimely,” she added.
Some lecturers too voiced their concerns, saying there was the need for a proper explanation of why Prof Kiama was being forced on leave.
“We have not been told why and that raises a lot of questions, we need Professor Kiama back,” a lecturer said.
During Professor Kiama’s absence, Prof. Julius Ogeng’o who is the DVC in charge of Academic Affairs was named in an acting capacity. s DVC Academic Affairs.
