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Post Reply: DPP Drops Sh32m Graft Case Against Former UoN Council Chair Amukowa Anangwe and Three Others

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	<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="0 0 []">In a surprising turn of events, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga has withdrawn a Sh32.4 million corruption case against former University of Nairobi (UoN) Council Chairperson Professor Amukowa Anangwe and three senior officials. The decision, made under Section 87(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code, was announced during a hearing at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, leaving the accused vindicated in their claim that the charges were a state-sponsored attempt to oust them from their positions. The DPP provided no specific reasons for terminating the case, which has sparked widespread discussion about the motives behind the initial charges and their sudden withdrawal.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The case began on May 17, 2025, when Professor Anangwe, along with UoN Council members Caren Kerubo Omwenga, Dr. Ahmed Sheikh Abdullahi, and Chief Operations Officer Daniel Brian Ouma, were arrested and arraigned on charges of abuse of office and unlawful acquisition of public property. The allegations centered on a council resolution passed on April 19, 2024, at the UoN Council Chamber in Nairobi. The prosecution claimed that the accused improperly used their authority to benefit Ouma by reappointing him as Acting Chief Operations Officer and nullifying a letter from then-Vice Chancellor Professor Stephen Kiama, which had rescinded Ouma’s appointment. This action was alleged to violate a judgment delivered on April 8, 2024, by the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) in case ELRC JR 46 of 2023, which reportedly barred such a resolution.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Additionally, Ouma faced a separate charge of unlawfully acquiring Sh32,459,406.15 in salaries between March 2015 and May 2025. The prosecution argued that Ouma was unqualified for the various roles he held during this period, including Deputy Director (Fundraising), Director of Advancement, and Acting Chief Operations Officer. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) had initiated the investigation, which also implicated two other council members, Joel Kamau Kibe and Dr. Darius Mogaka Ogutu, though they were not among those arrested.</p>
<p dir="ltr">During the arraignment on May 17, 2025, the accused pleaded not guilty and were released on bail. Anangwe was granted a cash bail of Sh500,000 or a bond of Sh1 million, while Ouma faced stricter terms with a cash bail of Sh3 million or a bond of Sh5 million. The court also ordered all accused to deposit their passports and barred them from accessing their UoN offices pending the trial’s outcome. The case was scheduled for a pre-trial mention on May 28, 2025.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Anangwe’s legal team, led by Abdirazak Mohamed, fiercely contested the charges, describing them as malicious, constitutionally defective, and politically motivated. They argued that a valid conservatory order from the ELRC in Petition No. E192 of 2024 explicitly protected Ouma’s employment status, rendering the prosecution’s case invalid. The defense emphasized that the UoN Council operates as a collective corporate body, making it legally erroneous to charge individual members for resolutions passed by the council as a whole. They further claimed that Anangwe’s arrest at Kisumu International Airport at 4 a.m. on May 16, 2025, was conducted in bad faith, with the EACC ambushing him without prior notice or opportunity to respond.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The defense also highlighted Anangwe’s role as a whistleblower who had invited the EACC to investigate financial mismanagement at UoN. They argued that he had turned around the university’s financial trajectory, reducing a Sh20 billion debt, and questioned why a whistleblower was being targeted. These arguments painted the prosecution as a politically driven effort to remove Anangwe and his colleagues from their positions.</p>
<p dir="ltr">On July 17, 2025, during what was expected to be a hearing at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, the state prosecutor, appearing before Principal Magistrate Celesa Okore, requested the termination of the case. The withdrawal was made under Section 87(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows the DPP to discontinue a prosecution without necessarily acquitting the accused. The lack of explanation for the decision has fueled speculation, with some suggesting it validates the defense’s claim of political interference. The move came just two months after Anangwe and the three co-accused were removed from their positions at UoN, further supporting their narrative of a targeted campaign.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Professor Amukowa Anangwe’s tenure as UoN Council Chairperson, which began on May 24, 2023, was marked by significant controversy. Appointed by then-Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, Anangwe was tasked with stabilizing an institution plagued by leadership disputes and financial challenges. However, his leadership style drew criticism from the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the National Assembly’s Education Committee, who accused him of overstepping his mandate and mismanaging the university.</p>
<p dir="ltr">One major point of contention was Anangwe’s decision to appoint Professor Francis Mulaa as acting Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs), which the Ministry of Education deemed a violation of the Universities Act, 2012. The council’s attempt to appoint Professor Bitange Ndemo as Vice-Chancellor also sparked controversy, with Ndemo rejecting the appointment due to an unprocedural process. These actions led to Anangwe’s brief dismissal by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on February 21, 2025, via a gazette notice. However, Anangwe successfully challenged the dismissal in court, with Justice Bahati Mwamuye reinstating him on February 26, 2025, pending a full hearing.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Anangwe’s leadership was further complicated by a power struggle with UASU, which threatened a strike in February 2025, alleging that he interfered in daily operations, issued unilateral staff transfers, and extended contracts improperly. The union also criticized a 24-month transformational strategy proposed by the university’s Chancellor, Professor Patrick Verkooijen, claiming it lacked staff involvement and could lead to the sale of university assets. Anangwe, in turn, accused UASU of being complicit in the university’s mismanagement and corruption.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The mounting pressure culminated in Anangwe’s resignation on May 26, 2025, alongside two other council members. The resignation followed a critical meeting on May 22, 2025, between UoN Professors Association (UoNPA) representatives and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei. Sources indicate that the meeting delivered a clear message that Anangwe’s position was untenable, with the government signaling its intent to resolve the leadership crisis at UoN. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed receiving the resignation letters, which were written on May 23 but delayed due to his absence from the country.</p>
<p dir="ltr">UASU welcomed the resignation but cautioned that it should not be used as leverage to influence the graft case. The union called for the appointment of altruistic and conscientious leaders to the UoN Council, emphasizing the need for reforms to restore stability. The withdrawal of the graft case has further intensified debates about the governance of Kenya’s premier university, with many questioning whether the charges were a tool to force Anangwe’s exit.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The withdrawal of the Sh32.4 million graft case has significant implications for UoN and Kenya’s higher education sector. It raises questions about the integrity of anti-corruption efforts and the potential misuse of legal processes for political ends. Anangwe’s legal team and supporters argue that the case’s dismissal validates their claim of a state-orchestrated campaign to remove him, possibly due to his efforts to address financial mismanagement at UoN.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Public reaction, as reflected on social media platforms, has been mixed. Some Kenyans have praised the DPP’s decision, viewing it as a correction of an injustice against Anangwe, who was seen as a reformer tackling entrenched corruption. Others have expressed skepticism about the lack of transparency in the DPP’s decision, calling for greater accountability in how such cases are handled.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As UoN moves forward, the focus is now on appointing a new council and addressing the university’s ongoing challenges, including a reported Sh20 billion debt and leadership vacancies. The Anangwe saga underscores the complex interplay of politics, governance, and institutional reform in Kenya’s higher education landscape, leaving a lasting impact on the University of Nairobi’s trajectory.</p>
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