Prof. Bitange Ndemo has declined the appointment as the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Nairobi (UoN), citing procedural irregularities. The anticipated appointment took a turn when Prof. Ndemo publicly rejected the position due to concerns over adherence to legal processes.

In a statement released on May 9, 2025, Prof. Ndemo confirmed that he was among the shortlisted candidates for the VC position. Following interviews conducted on March 21, he emerged as one of the finalists. On May 5, he received an official appointment letter from the Chairman of the University Council, Prof. Amukowa Anangwe. However, before accepting the role, Prof. Ndemo sought confirmation that the appointment had followed the required legal process, specifically the concurrence of the Cabinet Secretary for Education, as stipulated by law.

Prof. Ndemo stated that Prof. Anangwe assured him that the matter was being addressed and that the necessary documents had been submitted. The council had already appointed Prof. Francis Jackim Mulaa, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, as Acting Vice Chancellor until Prof. Ndemo's release from his diplomatic service in Brussels.

Following the announcement, the news of his appointment spread across media platforms, drawing congratulatory messages. However, Prof. Ndemo has dissociated himself from what he describes as an “unprocedural process” and withdrawn his candidacy.

According to the Universities Act of 2012, the Cabinet Secretary for Education must provide formal concurrence before a vice chancellor appointment takes effect, even after PSC vetting. Ndemo's decision has thrown the leadership of the University of Nairobi into uncertainty, just days after the Council had officially begun a transition. The acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mulaa, was expected to lead the university for six months while Prof. Ndemo concluded his term as Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium.

Prof. Ndemo's appointment had been widely welcomed given his long-standing relationship with the University of Nairobi and his extensive experience in academia, public service, and global diplomacy. He previously served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication, where he led major ICT initiatives, including overseeing the rollout of undersea fibre-optic cables and supporting policy frameworks that enabled innovations like M-Pesa.

Prof. Anangwe has called on the Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Ogamba, to finalize the appointment process. According to the merit list, Ndemo emerged top with a score of 84 percent, ahead of Prof. Duke Orata (73 percent) and Prof. Francis Jackim Mulaa (66.7 percent). The council’s decision comes amid leadership wrangles that have rocked the institution in the past two years and saw the expulsion of former VC Stephen Kiama. With this development, the University of Nairobi is now expected to reassess its succession process.