Professor Waceke Wanjohi, the suspended Deputy Vice Chancellor of Kenyatta University (KU), has taken decisive action by filing a petition in the Nairobi Employment and Labour Relations Court. In her petition, dated July 27, 2026, she seeks a ruling to declare the recent appointment of Professor John Okumu as KU’s Vice Chancellor illegal.
Represented by her lawyer Chris Mutuku, Professor Wanjohi asserts that Professor Okumu’s appointment is not only unlawful but also improper and contrary to constitutional provisions. She requests the court to nullify the KU Council’s decision to appoint Okumu, made through a letter dated the same day, and to officially declare the position vacant.
In her application, she states, “We seek a declaration that the appointment of the 5th respondent (Professor John Okumu) as the Vice Chancellor of Kenyatta University was unmerited, improper, illegal, and contrary to the law.”
Furthermore, Professor Wanjohi contends that her suspension, evidenced by a letter dated July 27, 2026, was executed with malice. She seeks the court’s affirmation that this suspension is unlawful and requests the quashing of the suspension letter along with any decisions that may adversely affect her role as Deputy VC for Academics.
Her application includes a request for a declaration that the suspension, as detailed in the letter dated July 27, 2026, titled SUSPENSION, is irregular, unprocedural, unlawful, and motivated by malice and ill-will.
In addition, she seeks to have the court annul a letter that revoked her appointment as a Trustee of the KU Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme, along with any other decisions that may attempt to suspend or interfere with her trustee role.
Moreover, Professor Wanjohi aims to quash a notice requiring her to show cause for an alleged breach of Chapter 6, as communicated by the KU Council in a letter dated July 27, 2026, which threatens her with dismissal.
Importantly, she requests the employment court to compel the KU Council to appoint her as the substantive Vice Chancellor of KU.
The case is currently before Justice Jacob Gakeri, who has granted the respondents—including the Cabinet Secretary for Education, the Attorney General, the Public Service Commission, and the KU Council—a period of 14 days to respond to the application. The involved parties are also instructed to file and exchange submissions within the same timeframe. A mention of the case is scheduled for October 5, 2026, to set a date for the judgment.
