UoN Council Chair, THREE Members Arrested By The EACC
Four University of Nairobi (UON) Council members, including Chair Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, have been arrested by officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for alleged abuse of authority.
According to sources, the four members were transported to EACC’s headquarters, the Integrity Centre, for questioning on Friday, May 16.
Anangwe was reportedly caught in Kisumu, while the three other suspects, who have yet to be identified, were arrested in Nairobi.
The current incident comes as the once-prestigious school faces increased scrutiny for alleged mismanagement by council members, which has hampered operations and learning.
Senior University of Nairobi Council members, including Prof. Amukowa Anangwe and three others, have been arrested on allegations of abuse of office in the unlawful reappointment of Brian Ouma as Chief Operations Officer.
— KBC Channel 1 News (@KBCChannel1) May 16, 2025
Professor Anangwe and the co-accused have arrived at the… pic.twitter.com/HNZx6w55kc
Four University of Nairobi Council members, including chairperson Prof Amukowa Anangwe being taken to court over alleged abuse of office claims after their arrest pic.twitter.com/OKFL2OmyAg
— NairobiNews.co.ke (@NairobiNews254) May 16, 2025
The most recent incident was a disagreement over the university’s Vice-Chancellor appointment, which sparked a tug-of-war between the school and the Ministry of Education.
The University Council, led by Prof Amukowa Anangwe, named Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, Prof Bitange Ndemo, as the new VC.
He was scheduled to succeed Prof. Margaret Jesang Hutchinson at the conclusion of his diplomatic mission in Brussels during the following six months.
Prof. Francis Mulaa, the newly appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor in Charge of Academic Affairs, was to serve as VC until Prof. Ndemo returned from Brussels in the next six months and formally took office.
Four University of Nairobi Council members, including chairperson Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, being escorted to court after their arrest over alleged abuse of office in the irregular appointment of Daniel Ouma as COO. pic.twitter.com/GTBi9VYOb1
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) May 16, 2025
In the letter, which was also copied to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, Anangwe stated that Prof. Ndemo is currently ending up his diplomatic assignment as Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium.
However, Ndemo rejected his nomination as the new Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, expressing reservations about the selection process.
Ndemo described his appointment as unprofessional, and he attempted to distance himself from the post.
“The announcement triggered a flood of congratulatory messages on social media,” the statement read in part.
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“However, I dissociate myself from this unprocedural process and have withdrawn my candidacy for the position.”
This isn’t the first time EACC has clashed with UON. In November 2024, two are at odds over the selection of a senior director as the university’s acting Chief Operating Officer (COO).
The COO was appointed by the University Council in September 2024.
EACC claims that the official, a long-serving employee at UON, lacks the necessary academic qualifications for the role. Additionally, EACC has asserted that the COO position the COO holds was not created per applicable law.
UoN Council Chair, THREE Members Arrested By The EACC
