Bitange Ndemo Rejects UoN VC Job, Explains Why
Prof Ndemo criticised the selection process as irregular and distanced himself from the position.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium, Bitange Ndemo, on Thursday, May 8, declined his appointment as the next Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, raising concerns about the selection process.
The university’s Council, led by Prof Amukowa Anangwe, had officially named Prof Ndemo as the incoming VC, set to take over from acting VC Prof Margaret Jesang Hutchinson after wrapping up his diplomatic duties in Brussels within six months.
Hutchinson has been serving in an interim capacity, and Ndemo’s appointment was intended to ensure continuity and avoid a leadership gap. In a letter dated May 5, 2025, the Council also appointed Prof Francis Jackim Mulaa as Acting VC for six months to oversee the transition.
However, in a public statement, Prof Ndemo criticised the selection process as irregular and distanced himself from the position.
A signpost at the University of Nairobi. /UON
"The announcement triggered a flood of congratulatory messages on social media. However, I dissociate myself from this unprocedural process and have withdrawn my candidacy for the position," the statement read in part.
Prof Ndemo took to LinkedIn to voice his concerns, sparking widespread questions among Kenyans. He claimed the selection process for the University of Nairobi Vice Chancellor role was flawed and lacked proper procedure.
He explained that he was one of five candidates shortlisted and later made it to the final three after interviews conducted on March 21, 2025.
Ndemo revealed that he received an official appointment letter from University Council Chair Prof Amukowa Anangwe on May 5, 2025, naming him as the new VC.
"I sought confirmation from the Chairman regarding the Minister for Education's concurrence, as required by law. Prof. Anangwe assured me that it was being addressed and that he had submitted the necessary documents an hour earlier.
"Additionally, the Chairman had already issued a letter to Prof. Mulaa to act as VC until my release from my current post," he added.
In a letter dated May 2, 2025, Prof Amukowa Anangwe disclosed that Prof Ndemo had emerged as the top candidate in interviews conducted by the Public Service Commission (PSC).
The letter, sent to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, named Ndemo as the top nominee for the Vice Chancellor post at Kenya’s premier university. However, Ndemo’s decision to decline the appointment, effective the same day, has now thrown the University of Nairobi into uncertainty, as it continues to face significant financial and leadership challenges.
Nonetheless, Dennis Itumbi, head of Presidential Special Projects and the Creative Economy, praised Prof Ndemo’s decision, commending him for standing up for due process and upholding the rule of law.
"Thank you, Prof Bitange Ndemo, for insisting on the right process and the law. Thank you for rejecting the push by some who wanted to act against the law," Itumbi wrote.
