Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Paul Wainaina has officially left office after serving for ten years, a period he said was marked by pressure and interference, particularly during the previous administration.
Speaking during his farewell ceremony attended by students, university management, council members, and union representatives, Prof. Wainaina reflected on the challenges he faced while leading the institution, even as it rose to become Kenya’s top-ranked university.
He attributed the university’s success to teamwork and cooperation across departments, saying collective effort played a key role in achieving academic excellence.
Prof. Wainaina recalled a 2019 incident in which he was summoned to Harambee House and asked to surrender the university’s title deed. He said he was not aware of the document’s whereabouts. Shortly afterward, he was sent home and a new university council was appointed.
He also raised concerns over the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital, which was built using a loan taken by the university but was later placed under government control. Prof. Wainaina said the move limited access for health sciences students and called on the incoming Vice-Chancellor and the University Council to work toward returning the hospital to the university.
During his tenure, Prof. Wainaina said the university managed to reclaim 410 acres of land out of the original 700 acres.
Student leaders from the Kenyatta University Students Union (KUSU) praised his leadership, citing improved relations between students and the university administration during his term.
University Council Chairperson Prof. Clara Momanyi described Prof. Wainaina as a committed and principled leader, crediting him with guiding Kenyatta University to become one of the leading universities in East Africa, despite operating under immense pressure.
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