PSC distances itself from UoN leadership wrangles

Public Service Commission led by Vice Chairman Mary Kimonye during their meeting with the Senate Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration deliberating on the equal representation in the staffing and the state of compliance with Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) at The Hilton Gardens hotel on May 12, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has distanced itself from the ongoing leadership stalemate at the University of Nairobi.

In a press statement issued Wednesday, PSC Vice Chairperson Mary Kimonye said the Commission had executed its mandate according to the law in the hiring of the new VC. 

Kimonye further warns that the impasse threatens academic operations and service delivery at Kenya’s leading public university.

“The deadlock… is regrettable and clearly not in the best interest of the country,” the statement read.

She noted that PSC had already conducted a competitive, merit-based selection process for the Vice Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor positions at UoN, in accordance with the Universities Act.

“The final list of top candidates was forwarded to the University Council for appointment in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary for Education,” the statement reads. 

The PSC pointed out that since the new Commission leadership took office in January 2025, it has cleared a backlog of 19 Vice Chancellor appointments in public universities, including Kenyatta University, Pwani University, and Multimedia University, among others — all without incident.

“With the exception of the University of Nairobi, the Commission has not witnessed any leadership disagreements,” PSC stated, attributing the smooth transitions elsewhere to confidence in its process and the cooperation of university councils. 

The PSC now wants stakeholders at UoN to amicably resolve the dispute to avert further damage to the university’s reputation and national anxiety.

“The Commission… urges the parties involved to resolve the dispute… expeditiously as guided by the law in order to save the country unnecessary anxiety and stem the deterioration of the image of the Premier University,” Kimonye urged.