The University of Nairobi Council has appointed Prof Ayub Gitau as the institution’s 9th Vice Chancellor, ushering in a new leadership team at Kenya’s oldest public university.
In a statement issued after a special sitting held on Thursday, May 14, 2026, the council also appointed Prof Josiah Omollo Aduda as the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance, Planning and Development.
The appointments take effect immediately.
Prof Ayub Gitau takes over from Prof Margaret Hutchinson who has been the acting VC since the departure of Prof Stephen Kiama.
Prof Hutchinson had been serving in an acting capacity since August 2024 after the suspension of Prof Kiama before his eventual departure in 2025.
The council commended Prof Hutchinson for her service during the university’s transition period.
Prof Gitau takes over leadership of the university after months of uncertainty following the exit of former Vice Chancellor Prof Stephen Kiama amid prolonged governance wrangles.
The recruitment process for the substantive vice chancellor position had been finalised by the Public Service Commission earlier this year, with the shortlisted names forwarded to the university council for appointment.
The university had also previously appointed Prof Bitange Ndemo as substantive VC in May 2025, but he later declined the position citing procedural concerns.
Before his appointment, Prof Gitau served as the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the university and has been involved in several institutional and international academic programmes.
Earlier this year, he represented the university during the launch of a new European Union-African Union comparative studies programme, where he lauded international academic partnerships and evidence-based policy development in higher education.
The latest changes come at a time when the university has been under pressure to stabilise its leadership and strengthen governance structures after years of management disputes and financial challenges.
Education stakeholders are expected to closely watch the new administration as it takes over the management of the institution, which remains a key centre for higher education and research in the region.
