Prof. Mugenda should continue her duties- KUC

The Kenyatta University Council (KUC) led by professor Michieka Ratemo now wants its Vice Chancellor Professor Olive Mugenda to continue with her duties since she is legally in office.

The Council says Friday’s court ruling, that the VC should proceed on a 6-month leave as a caretaker committee seeks to replace her, was just an advice and not an order.

In a statement from the University, the council regrets the advice by the courts is inappropriate, given that she still has some pending projects and initiatives.

On Friday, the Employment and Labour relations court has directed Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Prof. Olive Mugenda to proceed on terminal leave and take up all her pending leave days.

The court before Justice Hellen Wasilwa halted the ongoing recruitment exercise as stated in the press advertisement for vacancy of the VC inviting applications from eligible candidates to fill the position on the basis that the set terms and conditions are unfair and too restrictive to parties who might be interested in the position and that the advertisement has no room for public participation.

In November, staff members expressed concern that Prof. Mugenda wanted to extend her term.

A group of students also called for extension of her term to enable her complete the many projects she had started at the university.

Mugenda has had an illustrious career at the university where she spearheaded a massive expansion of facilities and raised student enrollment to the current 70,000 — one of the highest in the country to date.

She is credited with turning the university from a centre for education training to a multi-disciplinary institution.