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Irene Githinji @gitshee

University of Nairobi  (UoN) Vice-Chancellor Prof Gitahi Kiama has made new appointments under the new governance reform structure.

In a virtual address to UoN community yesterday, Kiama said some of the issues that have consistently impeded performance include top heavy administrative structures and slow bureaucratic tendencies.

However, he assured that no member of staff, both academic and non-academic, will lose their job during the reform process.

“As provided in the Statutes, the UoN Senate deliberated on the matter and made recommendations to the Council on a series of proposals that would address top heavy administrative system and eliminate duplication and redundancies in the way we carry out our businesses,” said Prof Kiama.

He said the UoN council considered the proposals and approved a governance structure that will ensure an efficient and effective administrative process in the institution.

Core mandate

The VC said the new governance structure announced last week by Council Chairperson Prof Julia Ojiambo will address issues of duplication, improve on cost management of operations and align functions to the core mandate of teaching, learning and research.

New structure saw abolishment of offices, merger of functions and creation of new functions.

The VC said the position of faculty has been elevated as the main focus of UoN activities, supported by the position of Associate Vice-Chancellors Academic Affairs and Research Innovation and Enterprise.

He said a re-engineered central support system run by professionals has also been established to ensure efficiency and accountability in service delivery. 

“All teaching has been reorganised under 11 faculties that will be run by executive deans, assisted by associate deans.

This will enhance accountability and efficiency in management of academic programmes,” he said.

Kiama saaid the process has carefully integrated those serving in leadership positions in the current colleges, faculties and schools.

“In the spirit of people reform we have already engaged all staff, whose positions are affected and agreed on how they can continue serving the university,” he said.