Bitange Ndemo Rejects Appointment to Become UoN Vice-Chancellor

In an official statement, the Kenyan Ambassador to Belgium referred to the process of his appointment as improper and dissociated himself from the role.

“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 However, I dissociate myself from this unprocedural process and have withdrawn my candidacy for the position,” the statement read in part.

Ndemo’s appointment was confirmed by the University Council on Thursday. The council announced that he would succeed Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Margaret Jesang Hutchinson upon completing his diplomatic posting.

Citing inconsistencies in his appointment, the professor acknowledged receiving the appointment letter from Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, Chairman of the University Council, but sought confirmation on whether the appointment had received the legally required concurrence from the Cabinet Secretary for Education.

The chairman reportedly assured him that the concurrence had been sought and the necessary documents submitted.

“On May 5, I received a letter from Hon. Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, Chairman of the University Council, appointing me as Vice-Chancellor. 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,” the ambassador continued.

According to Ndemo, the chairman of the council had already issued a letter to Professor Francis Mulaa to act as the VC until he was released from his current ambassadorial position.

Despite an outpouring of congratulatory messages on social media following the Council’s announcement on his appointment, Prof. Ndemo maintained that due process had not been followed and immediately withdrew his candidature.

Ndemo was to officially take over as the VC within the next six months after returning from Brussels from his ambassadorial job.

Reacting to Prof Ndemo’s rejection, the head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy, Dennis Itumbi, hailed the move, congratulating him for championing the right process and 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.

The appointment was seen as a step toward restoring stability after nearly two years of internal wrangling.

Bitange Ndemo Rejects Appointment to Become UoN Vice-Chancellor