The University of Nairobi (UoN) is facing criticism for disregarding advice from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and moving forward with the appointment of Brian Ouma as Acting Chief Operating Officer (COO), despite questions about his academic credentials.

In July, the UoN Council appointed Ouma to the COO role, overseeing administrative, non-academic departments and daily operations. However, EACC has labeled this appointment "irregular" and demanded its revocation, noting that Ouma’s qualifications do not meet Kenyan standards. According to an EACC investigation, Ouma holds a Bachelor’s degree from Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, Italy—an institution not recognized in Kenya.


“The tenure of Brian Ouma as acting chief operations officer at the University of Nairobi is irregular. The Bachelor of Philosophy degree from Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, Italy, which Ouma used to secure employment at the university, is not recognized in Kenya,” EACC stated in a letter to the UoN Council. The Commission for University Education (CUE) also confirmed that Pontifical Urbaniana University lacks accreditation in Kenya.

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In defiance of EACC’s directive, UoN has extended Ouma’s contract by six months, requesting the EACC to present all relevant evidence to ensure Ouma receives fair administrative justice. John Orindi, UoN's Director of Corporate Affairs, dismissed the allegations, calling them a “baseless witch-hunt.” He stated that Ouma’s degree is fully recognized and accredited, clarifying that the only issue raised involves Ouma’s KCSE grade. Orindi added that Ouma holds a Master’s degree from UoN and is pursuing a PhD there, with extensive management training to support his leadership role.


EACC’s report noted that Ouma gained entry to Pontifical Urbaniana University despite his KCSE grade of C-, which falls short of the standard required for degree admission in Kenya. The commission also highlighted that the creation of the COO role and other recent appointments violated the Universities Act of 2012, as the UoN Council should have coordinated these structural changes with the Cabinet Secretary to ensure compliance.

In response, the UoN Council has requested that EACC provide a copy of the initial complaint, as well as a report from CUE verifying the allegations, along with documentation supporting the claim that a KCSE grade of C- does not meet degree program entry requirements in Kenya.