A Kiambu High Court, Judicial Review Division, has extended orders blocking the appointment of a new Kenyatta University vice chancellor until an application filled by the institution’s deputy vice chancellor, Professor Waceke Wanjohi, is heard and determined.

In the second application, Professor Waceke sought orders directing the Kenyatta University Council (KUC) to renew her contract as the institution’s deputy vice chancellor for academics upon its expiry on July 31, 2026, which was granted.

When the matters came up for directions before Justice Margaret Njoki Mwangi on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, the court extended the orders issued in the two applications.

Appearing before Judge Mwangi, advocate Christopher Mutuku, representing Professor Waceke, requested the court to consolidate the two applications to be heard and determined together.

Judge Mwangi allowed the application by Mutuku for consolidation of the two applications for an expediency hearing and also noted that the other reason for consolidation was because the parties are the same.

“In my considered view, all those issues can be heard together and determined together, and the lead file following this consolidation and the lead file will be high court J.R. number E015 of 2026,” Judge Mwangi ruled.

“The ex parte orders granted in both High Court J.R. number E015 of 2026 and High Court J.R. number E016 of 2026 shall remain in force until discharged by the courts,” Justice Mwangi ruled.

On April 22, 2026, Judge Mwangi barred the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Julius Migos Ogamba, the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Kenyatta University Council (KUC) from filling the vacant position of VC.

“That the leave hereby granted shall operate as a temporary injunction barring the respondents (CS Ogamba, PSC and KUC), jointly and severally, whether by themselves, their servants or agents or howsoever, from filling the position of Vice Chancellor, Kenyatta University, or appointing any other person than the applicant to the position of Vice Chancellor, Kenyatta University, pending the hearing and determination of these proceedings,” Judge Mwangi ordered.

Through an application filed by Mutuku, Waceke avers that she is the best suited to fill the VC position, noting that she is aware that she performed well in the interview she attended for the position on March 25, 2026.

In addition, Waceke, who has served as the deputy vice chancellor for academic affairs at Kenyatta University for the past five years, states that she is reliably informed that she was ranked as the best candidate.

She further cites that despite her being the best candidate, there have been efforts to lock her out from the position.

Notably, on May 5, 2026, Justice Mwangi issued another order directing KUC to renew Professor Wanjohi’s contract as the institution’s deputy vice chancellor for academics upon its expiry on July 31, 2026.

The order came; she went back to court through an application filed by advocate Mutuku seeking orders for the renewal of the contract, stating that the council notified her through a letter dated April 29, 2026, that it will not be renewing her contract as the KU deputy vice chancellor for academic affairs upon its expiry.

“That I hereby grant the prayers sought in paragraphs 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), 4 and 5 of the Chamber Summons dated April 29, 2026,” Judge Njoki ruled.

According to court papers, KUC, through a letter dated April 29, 2026, informed Professor Wanjohi that they will not be renewing her contract, as she had requested through a letter dated January 29, 2026, the renewal of her contract as the KU deputy vice-chancellor.

“The University Council has deliberated on your request for renewal of contract, pursuant to the University Statutes, the Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual for the Public Service and the Public Service Commission (PSC) Act, 2017. This is therefore to inform you that the Council has resolved not to renew your contract ending on July 31, 2026, for the position of deputy vice chancellor, academic affairs.

Lawyer Mutuku argues that KUC’s refusal to renew professors’ contracts is unjustified, unreasonable and unexplained generalised and unsubstantiated “grounds”, without appearing to breach the orders of the court in High Court Judicial Review case number E015/2026.

“In a bid to defeat the orders of prohibition issued by the court in HCJR NO. E015/2026, the 4th respondent (KUC) has resorted to underhand and unorthodox tactics unbefitting of the management of an academic institution of the stature of Kenyatta University by unfairly and without any reasonable cause refusing to renew the applicant’s (Wanjohi’s) contract as Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic,” part of the application reads.