Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has overhauled the Moi University council.
Effective January 17, 2025, Prof. Noah Midamba has been appointed as the new Chairperson, succeeding Dr. Humphrey Kimani Njuguna. Prof. Midamba previously served as Vice-Chancellor of KCA University from 2011 to 2021.
Alongside this leadership change, four council members have been dismissed: Prof. Clara Samiji Momanyi, Christopher Khaemba, Eusilah Jepkosgei Ngeny, and Susan Amlango Aletia. Their replacements are Prof. Ronald Wasike, Dr. Mercy Nyambura Kanyara, Dr. Edward Sambili, and Anne Weceke Makori.
These changes come amid significant unrest at Moi University. Staff recently engaged in a week-long strike, citing the administration’s failure to honor agreements from a previously negotiated Return to Work Formula. The university has also been grappling with financial mismanagement and governance disputes, leading to a decline in academic standards and public trust.
In December 2024, CS Ogamba visited the university and pledged to implement major reforms to tackle these issues. He emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and credibility in higher education institutions, stating, “We are prepared to take necessary actions so that our universities are run in a transparent manner… We are ready to make hard decisions to make sure there is hygiene in this sector.”
The appointment of Prof. Midamba and the new council members is viewed as a strategic step toward restoring stability and integrity at Moi University. The new leadership is expected to address the institution’s financial woes, improve governance, and rebuild trust among staff, students, and stakeholders.
