Speaking to the press on Tuesday, November 18, a day after submitting his resignation to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, Chumo confirmed his departure but firmly denied that it was prompted by union agitation.
Former chair of Kenyatta University Council Ben Chumo
“Contrary to claims, I did not resign because of union pressure; nothing could be further from the truth. I have faced far greater pressures leading large organisations,” Chumo stated.
“My resignation is a matter of principle: if the ministry has no faith in me, then they should find someone else to run the process,” he added.
“The union’s statement appears to be an attempt to trivialise an important process and make themselves appear to be a mouthpiece,” he said.
“Someone is using the union to assign blame, perhaps even to make it look like they pushed me out. I have worked with unions my entire career. No union has ever pressured me out of any position,” Chumo added.
Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Prof Paul Wainaina
He expressed concern over what he described as interference in the university council’s recruitment process, particularly in the ongoing search for a new vice-chancellor to succeed Prof. Paul Wainaina, who is set to retire in January 2026.
“The biggest issue here is the process. When you interfere with the process, the outcome becomes compromised. Things do not go wrong, they start wrong. When the ministry stepped into our Council room, that signalled the wrong start. That is why I chose to step aside,” Chumo explained.
