Prof Rose Mwonya appointed as Egerton University vice-chancellor

Nakuru, Kenya: Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi has finally appointed a new Vice Chancellor (VC) at the Njoro based Egerton University amid controversy that had rocked the recruitment process.

Professor Kaimenyi appointed former Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Professor Rose Mwonya to succeed outgoing VC, Professor James Tuitoek, who is due to leave the university in January 2016.

Professor Mwonya, who is the fifth VC according to the announcement published in a local daily Thursday, holds three degrees including a Ph.d from IOWA State University in the USA and a diploma from Egerton University.

Her former, colleague Professor Njenga Munene, who deputised the VC at the Administration and Finance, obtained orders temporarily stopping the recruitment process by the University council in mid-September. He cited bias and lack of transparency.

Prof. Munene, who also eyed the highly coveted post at the institution known for variety of agriculture based courses, had claimed that qualifications calling for applications were varied in a second advertisement to lock him out of the contest.

The move elicited drama after a court process server sent to deliver the court orders was denied entry at the university's branch- Nakuru Town Campus, where interviews were being conducted. The suit is still pending at the Nairobi Employment and Labour Relations court.

However, it is now clear that his fate has been sealed following the announcement made Thursday, putting Mwonya at the helm of the university for the next five years, beginning January 13, 2016.

In the notice issued by university council congratulating the newly appointed VC on behalf of the council, university management, staff and students, the council secretary Prof. Tuitoek noted that Mwonya joined Egerton University in 1987 and has served in various administrative positions.

Prof. Mwonya is also praised as the Founding Director of Centre of Women and Gender Analysis, which is said to be the first of a kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.