Vice chancellor's live address to the UoN Community. Wed July 14, 2021.

Vice chancellor Prof. S. Kiama addressed the UoN Community Wed July 14, 2021. at 2.00pm

Bellow is his speech.   (Click here to watch speech)

To all members of the university Community,
Ladies and gentlemen,
During our 50th year celebrations on 10th December 2020 I stated as
follows:
“Occasions like this are important for reflections of the past success and
shortcomings. Like all organization we have experienced challenges but
we have always triumphed.”
We have over the years witnessed declining capitation when the cost to
maintain and grow the University has been increasing. Our expenditure
has over the years been higher than the capitation and the locally
generated funds for some years now. We have also experienced
governance challenges. We have grown so large and to some extent
become somehow less efficient. I believe that some of these
shortcomings can be addressed through targeted governance reforms,
financial reforms, people reforms, Curricular reforms and use of data in
decision making. There is no doubt that we need to critically review our
tool box. It’s likely that there are tools in the tool box that were relevant in
the 70’s that are no longer relevant. We must reflect and only retain those
activities that will make UON more relevant, more vibrant and
sustainable. When I cast my eyes into the future and envision this
University another 50 years from now, I see a university that is more
relevant, a University that generates knowledge, that empowers the
people, that has embraced fully the culture of innovation and thus
expanding opportunities for our young people and making life easier
and fun for all. I see a University that engages in activities that it can
finance and no more. A University that is fully accountable for its actions
and responsibilities. We have a responsibility to embody the hopes of the

Kenyan people. The University of Nairobi will walk with the Kenyans in the
trenches. We have a responsibility.
As Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, our First Chancellor once said about the
University of Nairobi-- "My Government and I wish to emphasize in
this way, that here is an Institution of the highest importance,
integrating into the life of our republic”.
We commit to continue to be that Institution of highest importance
and to fully integrate with the life of our republic” End of quote

Ladies and gentlemen,
Let me start by thanking you all for your individual and collective
responsibility in ensuring that the University continues to carry out its
mandate of teaching and learning, as well as research, innovation and
community service. Because of our collective effort, this university is set
for better times ahead.
Buoyed by our achievements and resilience, I have faith that as we begin
another journey of fifty years, our reform agenda will lead to a higher
level of competitiveness, sustainability and vibrancy.

Since last year we have continuously engaged both staff and students on
the reforms process. We have achieved good progress so far on People
reforms, Curricular reforms, Financial reforms and Data reforms.
We have consistently engaged and sought your views on the best way to
deal with the governance reforms. In my last address, I thanked you for
the insightful feedback you gave on the appropriate governance reform
interventions required to streamline our operations. Some of the issues
that have been mentioned consistently to impede our performance
include the top heavy administrative structure, slow bureaucratic
processes and redundancies among other issues. As provided in the
statutes, the Senate deliberated on the matter and made
recommendations to the council on a series of proposals that would
address the top heavy administrative system and eliminate duplication
and redundancies in the way we carry out our business.
The council considered the proposals and approved a governance
structure that will ensure effective, and efficient administrative process at

University of Nairobi. The new governance structure that was announced
by Council on Friday 9th July 2021 will address the issue of duplication,
improve on cost management of our operations and to align our
functions to the core mandate of teaching, learning and research. The
position of faculty has been elevated as the main focus for devolution of
university activities. It will be supported at the Centre by the positions of
the Associate Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs, the Associate Vice
Chancellor research, Innovation and enterprise and a re-engineered
central support system run by professionals to ensure efficiency and
accountability in service delivery.
All teaching has been reorganized under 11 teaching faculties that will be
run by Executive Deans assisted by Associate Deans. This will enhance
accountability and efficiency in management of academic programs. The
process has carefully integrated those serving currently in leadership
positions in the current colleges, Faculties and School. In the spirit of
people reforms, we have already engaged all staff whose positions are
affected and agreed on how they can continue serving the University. As
your Vice Chancellor I would like to confirm that during these reforms, no
member of staff, both academic and non academic has lost their job.
In that respect, I wish to announce the following appointments to the new
positions:
1. Associate Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs-Prof. Juluis
Ogeng’o
2. Acting Associate Vice Chancellor in charge of Research, Innovation
and Enterprise-Prof.Margaret Hutchison
3. Acting Executive Dean, Faculty of Agriculture-Prof.Rose Nyikal.
4. Acting Executive Dean, Faculty of Built Environment-Prof. Robert
Rukwaro.
5. Acting Executive Dean, Faculty of Business and Management
Science-Prof.Jackson Maalu
6. Executive Dean, Faculty of Education-Prof.Isaac Jumba
7. Acting Executive Dean, Faculty of Engineering-Prof Ayub Gitau
8. Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences-Prof.James Machuki
9. Acting Executive Dean, Faculty of Law-Prof.Winfred Kamau

10.Acting Executive Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology- Prof.
Francis Mulaa.
11.Acting Executive Dean, Faculty of Arts-Prof. Ephraim Wahome
12.Acting Executive Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences- Prof.
Mohammed A. Jama.
13.Acting Executive Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Prof.John D.
Mande.
14.Acting Chief Operations Officer- Mr. Brian Ouma.
These appointments take effect immediately. The Deans will be in charge
of all academic programs, human and financial resources in their
respective faculties. The devolution in the Faculty level will enhance
efficiency and effectiveness and improve delivery of services. I beseech
you all to accord them your utmost support.
On 12th July 2021, the Council invited all trade Unions including UASU,
KUSU, and KUDHEHIA for engagement and consultations on the ongoing
reforms. We had a lengthy and fruitful engagement with KUSU and
KUDHEHIA and agreed on the way forward. The council will continue to
engage all stakeholders to ensure the University of Nairobi delivers its
mandate as expected.
As I conclude, wish to assure all staff that the main goal of the reform
process is to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, accountability in service
delivery. Staff serving in various offices will progressively be assigned
new functions and deployed accordingly. In the meantime, we expect
everyone to continue discharging their duties normally until when new
instructions are issued to them in writing.
I thank you and look forward to a better future for our University. A
university that is globally competitive, relevant and sustainable.

THANK YOU

PROF. S.G. KIAMA, PhD
VICE CHANCELLOR