New Dawn: Setback as PSC takes over hiring of top Varsity managements

Students of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology follow proceedings during their 13th graduation ceremony. [Duncan Ocholla/Standard]

Vice-chancellors (VCs) and deputy vice chancellors (DVCs) in public universities will now be recruited by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

A new law signed by President Uhuru Kenyatta has stripped university councils of their recruitment role. It also requires that chancellors of public universities be vetted and recommended to the Head of State for appointment by the PSC.

The details of the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendment) Act, 2018, which is likely to spark a major row between PSC and universities management, was signed into law last month.

Vice-chancellors had rejected the proposal last year, arguing that university councils must continue playing a key role in the appointment of top management officials. They argued that giving the roles to the PSC was tantamount to micro-managing the institutions and depriving them of their autonomy.

Amended law

Under the amended law, VCs, DVCs, principals and deputy principals of constituent colleges will be employees of the university councils after a competitive process overseen by the PSC, a marked departure from the current practice where the councils conduct the process.

Under the old order, the law says that in the case of public universities, the councils recommended the appointment of the vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellor, and principals and deputy principals of constituent colleges to the Cabinet secretary through a competitive process.

The new requirement comes as various universities’ councils opposed appointments of VCs and DVCs made by Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed.

In the latest case, the University of Nairobi council rejected Amina’s appointments, claiming she swapped names.

Academic affairs

The council had recommended Prof Stephen Kiama for DVC Human Resources and Administration, and Prof Madara Ogot for DVC Research, Production and Extension. Prof Julius Ogengo was recommended for DVC Academic Affairs.

Amina, however, appointed Prof Jama Mohamud to be the new DVC Finance, Planning and Development while Prof Julius Ogeng’o was picked as the Academic Affairs DVC.

The university’s graduate school director, Prof Lydia Njenga was appointed to be the DVC for Research, Production and Extension while Prof William Ogara was appointed to the newly created position of DVC Human Resource.

UoN Council chairperson Prof Julia Ojiambo has sought legal interpretation of the provisions of the Universities Act and University of Nairobi legal provisions.

However, in a letter to the Office of the Attorney General, Amina explained that other than merit, she had also considered gender and regional balance in making the appointments.