Kumbe UoN students are about fed up, bana! They're threatening to shut down the whole joint if CS Julius Ogamba doesn't speed up appointing a substantive vice chancellor—and honestly, they have every right to be fuming.

The Leadership Mess That Won't Quit

Listen, the University of Nairobi has been running on fumes since 2024 when former VC Prof. Stephen Gitahi Kiama got sent packing over gross misconduct allegations. Since then? It's been acting VCs, uncertainties, and vibes that are giving "sijui nini." Prof. Margaret Jesang Hutchinson has been holding the fort as acting vice chancellor, but temporary solutions don't cut it when you're steering a university of thousands of students.

The students aren't playing around this time. UNSA president Michael Soi just dropped the ultimate ultimatum: either CS Ogamba intervenes and appoints a substantive VC, deputy VC for academic affairs, AND deputy VC for finance, administration and planning—or UoN goes on strike. Sawa sawa? Not sawa.

When the Process Hits a Dead End

Here's where it gets juicy and frustrating at the same time. The university council already did the interviews. They shortlisted candidates. Everything was moving, everything had momentum—lakini then what? The whole thing just... stalled. Like a matatu that ran out of fuel on Southern Bypass.

What makes it even more dramatic is the succession drama. Prof. Bitange Ndemo topped the Public Service Commission's merit list but then withdrew from the race (insert confused emoji). Then Prof. Duke Omondi Orata, who was ranked second, started arguing he should get the job based on legal grounds. Court orders, petitions, ministry involvement—it's become more complicated than a Nairobi love triangle. Meanwhile, students are sitting in classrooms with zero clear academic direction. The uncertainty is real, and it's affecting everything from governance to their overall well-being.

Soi put it perfectly: "We want to know who is derailing this process." Because at this point, someone's clearly dragging their feet, and it ain't the students or the university council.

The Clock Is Ticking

What's wild is that UoN students have proven they can mobilize quickly when they're serious. A strike from East Africa's top university? That's not something CS Ogamba should be sleeping on. Education is already shaky enough without Kenya's flagship institution going on another shutdown.

The students are being crystal clear: they want proper oversight, lawful procedures, and leaders who can actually steer the ship. That's not a big ask. That's literally the bare minimum.

The Jukwaa Take: Sometimes you gotta light a fire under someone's seat to get action—and these UoN students just grabbed the matches.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke