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The High Court has temporarily halted the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor at Kenyatta University following a legal challenge over the recruitment process.
The decision was issued by Justice Njoki Mwangi after an urgent application filed by Professor Waceke Wanjohi, the institution’s Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs.
In her ruling, the judge directed that no appointment should proceed until the matter is heard and determined.
“The leave hereby granted shall operate as a temporary injunction barring the respondents from filling the position of Vice Chancellor, Kenyatta University, or appointing any other person other than the applicant,” Justice Mwangi ordered.
Professor Wanjohi has moved to court seeking judicial review against the Education Cabinet Secretary, the Public Service Commission, the Office of the Attorney General, and the university council, accusing them of mishandling the recruitment process.
According to court documents, the dispute stems from interviews conducted in March 2026 to fill the Vice Chancellor position. Wanjohi argues that she was ranked the top candidate by the interview panel, but claims that the relevant authorities have failed to act on the recommendations.
“The interviewing panel recommended the appointment of the Applicant as Vice Chancellor… but she is unaware of any steps taken by the respondents to implement that recommendation,” her filings state.
Instead, she alleges that disciplinary proceedings were initiated against her, a move she says is intended to undermine her candidacy.
In response, she is seeking court orders to compel the Education Cabinet Secretary to release the interview results and implement the panel’s recommendation. She is also asking the court to block the appointment of any other candidate and quash a decision authorising disciplinary action against her.
Justice Mwangi further directed that the leave granted will act as a stay on any disciplinary action against the professor pending the hearing of the case.
“The leave shall operate as a stay of all disciplinary proceedings… pending the hearing and determination of these proceedings,” the judge ruled.
In her application, Wanjohi argues that the actions taken against her violate her constitutional right to a fair hearing under Article 50.
“Every person has the right to have any dispute resolved in a fair and public hearing before an independent and impartial tribunal,” she states in her pleadings.
She warns that failure to intervene could render the case meaningless.
“If the applicant is shut out of the process, the substance of this dispute will be permanently alienated, rendering these proceedings nugatory,” the court documents add.
The court has directed Wanjohi to file and serve her substantive motion within 14 days and scheduled the matter for mention on May 20, 2026.
Source: High Court halts Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor appointment amid legal challenge
The decision was issued by Justice Njoki Mwangi after an urgent application filed by Professor Waceke Wanjohi, the institution’s Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs.
In her ruling, the judge directed that no appointment should proceed until the matter is heard and determined.
“The leave hereby granted shall operate as a temporary injunction barring the respondents from filling the position of Vice Chancellor, Kenyatta University, or appointing any other person other than the applicant,” Justice Mwangi ordered.
Professor Wanjohi has moved to court seeking judicial review against the Education Cabinet Secretary, the Public Service Commission, the Office of the Attorney General, and the university council, accusing them of mishandling the recruitment process.
According to court documents, the dispute stems from interviews conducted in March 2026 to fill the Vice Chancellor position. Wanjohi argues that she was ranked the top candidate by the interview panel, but claims that the relevant authorities have failed to act on the recommendations.
“The interviewing panel recommended the appointment of the Applicant as Vice Chancellor… but she is unaware of any steps taken by the respondents to implement that recommendation,” her filings state.
Instead, she alleges that disciplinary proceedings were initiated against her, a move she says is intended to undermine her candidacy.
In response, she is seeking court orders to compel the Education Cabinet Secretary to release the interview results and implement the panel’s recommendation. She is also asking the court to block the appointment of any other candidate and quash a decision authorising disciplinary action against her.
Justice Mwangi further directed that the leave granted will act as a stay on any disciplinary action against the professor pending the hearing of the case.
“The leave shall operate as a stay of all disciplinary proceedings… pending the hearing and determination of these proceedings,” the judge ruled.
In her application, Wanjohi argues that the actions taken against her violate her constitutional right to a fair hearing under Article 50.
“Every person has the right to have any dispute resolved in a fair and public hearing before an independent and impartial tribunal,” she states in her pleadings.
She warns that failure to intervene could render the case meaningless.
“If the applicant is shut out of the process, the substance of this dispute will be permanently alienated, rendering these proceedings nugatory,” the court documents add.
The court has directed Wanjohi to file and serve her substantive motion within 14 days and scheduled the matter for mention on May 20, 2026.
Source: High Court halts Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor appointment amid legal challenge