Sharp Daily
No Result
View All Result
Friday, May 9, 2025
  • Home
  • News
    • Politics
  • Business
    • Banking
  • Investments
  • Technology
  • Startups
  • Real Estate
  • Features
  • Appointments
  • About Us
    • Meet The Team
Sharp Daily
  • Home
  • News
    • Politics
  • Business
    • Banking
  • Investments
  • Technology
  • Startups
  • Real Estate
  • Features
  • Appointments
  • About Us
    • Meet The Team
No Result
View All Result
Sharp Daily
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Power struggle erupts over UoN chancellor’s overhaul plan

Teresiah Ngio by Teresiah Ngio
February 21, 2025
in News
Reading Time: 2 mins read

A power struggle is brewing at the University of Nairobi (UoN) following the appointment of Chancellor Patrick Verkooijen, who has launched an ambitious two-year overhaul plan aimed at revitalizing the institution. Verkooijen’s transformation blueprint, endorsed by the UoN Council and President William Ruto’s Cabinet, seeks to address several longstanding issues, including mounting debts, frequent student unrest, labor disputes, and low global rankings.

Verkooijen describes the plan as a necessary intervention to “save the university from a blazing fire,” comparing it to the radical reforms undertaken in the judicial sector in 2003. “Piecemeal fixes won’t cut it,” he said in an interview with The Star. “I see my tenure as a moment to save the university from a blazing fire.” Central to his vision is a strategy to optimize UoN’s extensive land holdings to raise funds, an idea he argues is crucial to clearing the university’s reported KSh20 billion debt. Verkooijen plans an independent audit of the university’s properties to determine which assets may be sold, leased, or involved in public-private partnerships.

However, this proposal has raised concerns among some academic staff. Professor Peter Wasamba, chair of the UoN professors’ association, has expressed skepticism over the plan, particularly the sale of university properties. “They want to sell university properties and the land in an unaccountable manner,” Wasamba said. “This is unacceptable.” He also criticized the chancellor’s approach, suggesting that the real issue lies with management, not faculty. “University of Nairobi’s problem is with management, not the teaching fraternity,” he insisted.

In addition to land sales, Verkooijen’s overhaul aims to tackle other institutional failings, including unpaid statutory deductions and over 200 pending court cases. He acknowledges that UoN’s declining reputation, both locally and internationally, is linked to these persistent issues.

RELATEDPOSTS

Kenya’s BPO market thrives amid digital economic growth

September 14, 2024

As tensions rise, the university community remains divided over the path forward, with some supporting Verkooijen’s drastic changes and others voicing concerns about the long-term impact on the institution’s integrity. The unfolding saga promises to shape UoN’s future in the years to come.

Previous Post

How umbrella pension schemes work in Kenya

Next Post

Start your weekend smart with CMMF

Teresiah Ngio

Teresiah Ngio

Related Posts

Agriculture And Economy
News

Lets get Kenya out of FATF list

May 9, 2025
News

The downside of Impact Investing

May 2, 2025
News

Leadership challenges at the University of Nairobi

April 24, 2025
News

Easter eggs and earnings: Growing your nest egg with CMMF

April 16, 2025
News

Geoffrey Ruku declares KES 377M net worth during CS vetting

April 15, 2025
News

Butere girls teacher accused of altering play script with political content

April 14, 2025

LATEST STORIES

Mothers who move us

May 9, 2025
Agriculture And Economy

Lets get Kenya out of FATF list

May 9, 2025

Stanbic bank Kenya posts 16.6% profit decline in Q1 2025

May 9, 2025

Regulatory hurdles hampering transition to electric motorcycles

May 9, 2025

A magical birthday at the springs

May 8, 2025

PSG defeat arsenal to reach Champions League final

May 8, 2025

The hidden risks of family-owned companies

May 8, 2025

Tackling Kenya’s housing crisis with affordable solutions

May 8, 2025
  • About Us
  • Meet The Team
  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
Email us: editor@thesharpdaily.com

Sharp Daily © 2024

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Politics
  • Business
    • Banking
  • Investments
  • Technology
  • Startups
  • Real Estate
  • Features
  • Appointments
  • About Us
    • Meet The Team

Sharp Daily © 2024