High Court temporarily blocks Kenyatta University VC appointment
By Zipporah Ngwatu, April 23, 2026A Kiambu High Court has temporarily blocked Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Education Julius Migos Ogamba, the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Kenyatta University Council (KUC) from filling the position of vice chancellor at Kenyatta University.
The order comes after the deputy vice-chancellor, Waceke Wanjohi, moved to court seeking orders blocking the appointment of any person other than her to the position of vice-chancellor, KU, pending the hearing and determination of her application.
Restraining order
Waceke sought an order restraining CS Ogamba, the PSC and the KU Council from filling the vacant vice chancellor position at the institution or appointing any person other than her to the position.
Lady Justice Njoki Mwangi, on Wednesday, 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.
“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.
According to Waceke, 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, adding that she is reliably informed that she was ranked as the best candidate.
Through her lawyer Chris Mutuku, Waceke, who has served as the deputy vice chancellor, academic affairs, at Kenyatta University for the past five years, argues that despite her being the best candidate, there have been efforts to lock her out from the position.
Process questioned
Lawyer Mutuku cites that the process leading to the decision by the PSC to direct the Kenyatta University Council to institute disciplinary proceedings against Waceke was flawed and unprocedural.
He avers that the purported disciplinary proceedings against Professor Waceke are deviously timed to coincide with the necessary appointment of the vice chancellor, which, if permitted, will effectively have shut her out of the race for appointment to the position for at least the next ten (10) years.
“In a bid to defeat the appointment of the applicant (Waceke), the 3rd & 4th respondents (PSC and KUC) have arbitrarily and without following due process commenced sham disciplinary proceedings against the applicant, calculated to orchestrate her suspension, to pave the way for the appointment of an alternative preferred candidate,” part of the application reads.
“The acts of the respondents, specifically the 3rd & 4th respondents (PSC and KUC), are ultra vires the law and offend all known principles of natural justice, fair play and equity and are a wanton and reckless abuse of the applicant’s (Professor Waceke) constitutional rights to equal and just treatment,” lawyer Mutuku adds.
Justice Mwangi has directed Professor Waceke to file a substantive judicial review application in 14 days from April 23, 2026.
The matter will be mentioned on May 20, 2026, for further directions.