A Kiambu High Court has ordered the Kenyatta University Council (KUC) to renew Professor Waceke Wanjohi’s contract as the institution’s deputy vice chancellor for academics upon its expiry on July 31, 2026.

The court order comes after the council notified Professor Wanjohi 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.

Lady Justice Njoki Mwangi, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, stated that KUC should renew Professor Wanjohi’s contract at the end of July, except in the event of her appointment as either the substantive or acting vice chancellor of Kenyatta University.

Judge Njoki has also barred the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Julius Migos Ogamba, the Public Service Commission (PSC) and KUC from filling Professor Wanjohi’s current position pending the conclusion of the other matter, save in the event she is appointed the KU Acting Vice Chancellor.

KU council decision squashed

Notably, the court has also granted Professor Wanjohi an order quashing the decision by KUC contained in a letter dated April 29, 2026, addressed to her, purporting to be a KUC resolution not to renew her contract as the deputy vice chancellor, academic affairs, Kenyatta University. 

“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.

The order stems from a notice of motion that the professor, through lawyer Chris Mutuku, sought orders compelling KUC to renew her contract as Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, at Kenyatta University upon its expiry on July 31, 2026, among other prayers.

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.

In the Judicial Review case, Judge Njoki, on April 22, 2025, temporarily blocked CS Ogamba, PSC, and KU Council, through themselves, their servants or agents, from appointing any other person to the VC position pending the hearing and determination of Professor Waceke’s application.

The matter will be mentioned on May 20, 2026, for further directions.