The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested four senior University of Nairobi officials, including Council Chairperson Prof. Amukowa An Gartner, in connection with the controversial appointment of Daniel Brian Ouma Okeyo as Acting Chief Operations Officer (COO). The arrests, made on charges of abuse of office and forgery, highlight ongoing governance issues at one of Kenya’s premier institutions.
Key Details of the Scandal
The EACC detained Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, Daniel Brian Ouma, Dr. Ahmed Sheikh Abdullahi, and Carren Kerubo Omwenga for their alleged roles in Ouma’s irregular appointment, which defied a court ruling on April 8, 2024. Prof. Anangwe was apprehended at Kisumu International Airport and airlifted to Nairobi for interrogation at the EACC’s Integrity Centre.
Ouma faces serious charges, including:
- Forgery of academic documents: His Bachelor of Philosophy degree from Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome is not recognized in Kenya, as confirmed by the Commission for University Education (CUE).
- Unlawful acquisition of public property: Ouma allegedly earned over Ksh.32 million in salaries between 2015 and 2025 for roles he was unqualified to hold, including Deputy Director (Fundraising, Donor Relations and Partnership), Director Advancement, and Acting COO.
The EACC alleges that the University Council ignored warnings from both the commission and former Vice Chancellor Stephen Kiama, usurping powers to appoint Ouma despite concerns about his qualifications.
Defiance of EACC and Court Orders
In July 2024, the University Council extended Ouma’s tenure as Acting COO by six months, dismissing EACC’s call to revoke the appointment. The commission had declared the position irregular, citing Ouma’s unrecognized degree and lack of qualifications for the role, which oversees all non-academic departments and daily operations.
The Council’s defiance prompted the EACC to publicly demand the revocation of Ouma’s appointment, accusing the institution of disregarding legal and ethical standards. The university, however, challenged the EACC to provide evidence, claiming it sought to ensure “fair administrative justice” for Ouma.
The four suspects are currently being processed at the EACC’s Integrity Centre and are expected to be arraigned in court today.
