Prof Bitange Ndemo has surprised many Kenyans by rejecting his appointment as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi. Even though many people had already started congratulating him, he made it clear through his LinkedIn page that he could not accept the offer due to what he called an unprocedural process. According to him, the recruitment was not handled properly and this made it difficult for him to accept the job despite the honor it carried.Prof Ndemo shared that he was one of five candidates shortlisted for the position.
After interviews held on March 21, 2025, he was chosen among the top three and later emerged as the top candidate. He said he received a letter from the University Council Chairman, Prof Amukowa Anangwe, on May 5, 2025, informing him that he had been officially appointed to take over as the new VC. However, before accepting the role, he asked the chairman if the appointment had the approval of the Education Cabinet Secretary, which is a legal requirement.
Prof Anangwe reportedly assured him that the ministry had been informed and the documents had been submitted just an hour before. But Prof Ndemo later discovered that a letter had already been sent to Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof Francis Mulaa asking him to serve as acting VC while waiting for Ndemo to leave his current role as ambassador to Belgium. This confused situation, combined with the unclear legal steps, led him to question the whole recruitment process.
He explained on social media that even though he was flattered by the support and praise he received, he could not be part of a process that lacked transparency. He said he would no longer be a candidate for the job, and strongly distanced himself from the manner in which the appointment was handled. His statement attracted many reactions online, with some Kenyans praising him for standing by his principles, while others questioned why the process was done in such a confusing way.
According to a letter dated May 2, 2025, addressed to the Education CS Julius Ogamba, the Public Service Commission had ranked Ndemo as the highest-scoring candidate. This made him the top nominee for the VC role. But now, with Ndemo refusing the job, the leadership of the University of Nairobi has been thrown into more uncertainty. The university is already facing many problems, including poor finances and weak leadership structures. Ndemo’s decision has now left the university council with serious questions to answer and decisions to make as they search for someone else to take charge.
