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Days after the University of Nairobi Council announced the termination of Vice Chancellor Prof Stephen Kiama’s tenure, a section of Nyeri MPs is now demanding his unconditional reinstatement to serve for the remainder of his term.

In a memo dated October 14 by the council chair Prof Amukowa Anangwe, the council terminated Kiama’s services to the university effective September 27.

The communication did however not divulge the reasons behind his termination but stated that indicated that Kiama had been promptly communicated to.

Competitive panel

But the MPs led by John Kaguchia (Mukurwe-ini) and his Tetu counterpart Geoffrey Wandeto feel that Kiama who was appointed for the position on January 6, 2020, following a competitive recruitment process conducted by the Public Service Commission in accordance with the University Act 2012 is being witch-hunted for unknown reasons.

The MPs poked holes in the termination of Kiama’s services months before the expiry of his term which is set to expire on January 5, 2025.

It is reported that Kiama had formally requested the university council to consider his application for a second term in service but the council, which was appointed in May 2023, is said to have commenced a process of replacing him despite his sterling performance.

“This is clearly a witch hunt and begs the question, are there things that the university council is planning and hellbent to implement in which the good professor is not keen,” asked the legislators.

They claimed that the council has dethroned Kiama to undertake fishy agendas such as leasing of the university’s prime land.

They also fingered the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Higher Education and Research under the Ministry of Education Beatrice Inyangala for interfering with Kiama’s operations.