Former ICT PS Prof Bitange Ndemo has rejected his appointment as the new Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Nairobi (UON) as he continued to receive congratulatory messages.

According to Prof Ndemo, who shared his position on his Linkedin page leaving many Kenyans asking many questions, the process of recruiting the new VC was unprocedural.

He narrated how he was among the five candidates shortlisted for the VC of UON position and was picked among the three finalists following interviews held on March 21, 2025.

Prof Ndemo, who is Kenya’s ambassador to Belgium, said he got a letter from UON University Council Chairman Prof Amukowa Anangwe appointing him as VC on May 5, 2025.

“I sought confirmation from the Chairman regarding the Minister for Education's concurrence, as required by law,” he narrated.

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He went on, “Prof Anangwe assured me that it was being addressed and that he had submitted the necessary documents an hour earlier.”

He later learnt Prof Anangwe had already issued a letter to Deputy VC Prof Francis Mulaa directing him to act as VC until his release from his current post in Brussels within 6 months.

The ambassador indicated that the announcement of his appointment to the hem of the institution of higher learning triggered a flood of congratulatory messages on social media.

However, Prof Ndemo has rejected the job offer based on the various issues he has raised on his social media page over the legality of the recruitment process and its poor handling.

“I dissociate myself from this unprocedural process and have withdrawn my candidacy for the position,” he concluded his post that has attracted varied reactions from Kenyans.

In a letter dated May 2, 2025, Prof Anangwe had revealed that Prof Ndemo had scored the highest marks following interviews conducted by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

The letter addressed to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba made him the leading nominee for the position of Vice Chancellor of Kenya’s leading institution of higher learning.

Prof Ndemo’s rejection of his appointment effective May 2, 2025, now throws into disarray the steering of UON, which continue to grapple with ugly financial and leadership hurdles.