By Grace Gilo
Professor Paul Wainaina was warmly welcomed back by the staff and students of Kenyatta University after his reinstatement as Vice Chancellor by the Labour and Employment Courts.
Having been away for a year, the Professor expressed his gratitude to those who supported him during this time.
“I am now back and we will continue working from where we stopped. My privilege is to work with you until I finish my term,” stated Prof Wainaina.
According to the court ruling, he will serve as Vice Chancellor until January 2026 and as a professor until June 2026.
“My contract as Vice Chancellor ends in January 2026. After fulfilling my duties as Vice Chancellor, I will retire as a professor at Kenyatta University in June 2026,” the professor clarified.
Also in attendance were Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Product Development, Professor Caroline Thoruwa, and Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academics, Professor James Biu Kung’u.
“As an institution, we welcome back Professor Wainaina, who we know is very hardworking. We assure him that the university will continue to support him so that we can do what is right for our students, staff, and the nation,” stated Prof Kung’u, the Ag DVC Academics.
“I am requesting each one of us to support Professor Paul Wainaina for KU to achieve its mission and vision,” added the DVC for academics.
“We are all ready to work together to continue to make this university what it should be,” stated Professor Thoruwa, Ag DVC RIO.
Professor Wainaina was first sent on leave in April 2024, with Prof. Waceke Wanjohi appointed as the acting Vice Chancellor.
The leave was initially scheduled to end on January 30, 2025 and was expected to resume his duties the following day.
The council sent him on leave, arguing that he had accumulated enough leave days to make his continued tenure at the university’s helm untenable.
He later moved to court to challenge his placement on terminal leave and the recruitment of his successor. He argued that he was being illegally removed from office.
He expressed gratitude to Judge Hellen Wasilwa, who presided over the case, and promised to work diligently until the end of his tenure.
Prof Wainaina also thanked all the unions for their support, particularly the Kenyatta University Staff Union (KUSU), which he noted was very vigilant.
“The courts have spoken, and we expect the council to respect this ruling,” said the Chairperson of KUSU.
He further promised to have a meeting with the entire Kenyatta University fraternity.
“I will have a meeting at the Kenyatta University Amphitheatre with all the workers and comrades,” he reiterated.