The Ministry of Education has advertised vacancies for chairpersons and members of councils in public universities and university constituent colleges, setting new academic and integrity requirements as it moves to reinforce governance structures ahead of the upcoming student placement exercise.
In a notice issued on Monday, April 13, the State Department for Higher Education said it is inviting qualified Kenyans to apply for the positions across public universities and constituent colleges.
"The Ministry of Education, State Department for Higher Education is in the process of recruiting Chairpersons and members of councils of public universities and university constituent colleges," read the notice in part.
Applicants for the chairperson role must hold a PhD from a recognised university, while those seeking council membership must have at least a master’s degree.
The ministry also requires candidates to demonstrate proven leadership and management experience and meet the standards set under Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity.
It further stated that public servants and academic staff in both public and private universities are not eligible to apply. Serving chairpersons and council members have also been excluded from the recruitment process.
"Interested candidates for the position of chairperson must hold a minimum of an earned PhD degree from a recognised University. The candidate for the position of chairperson should also have proven experience in leadership and management, and satisfy Chapter Six of the Constitution," it added.
According to the notice, selection will focus on identifying candidates with the right mix of skills and experience to provide policy direction and strategic guidance to universities.
Successful applicants will be deployed to different public universities and constituent colleges across the country, with regional balance, gender representation and professional diversity taken into account.
Those shortlisted will be required to present clearance documents, including a certificate of good conduct, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission clearance, Higher Education Loans Board clearance, Kenya Revenue Authority tax compliance certificate and a credit reference bureau report.
How To Apply
The State Department for Higher Education has directed interested applicants to submit their applications by April 27. Submissions can be made via email or delivered by hand to Telposta Towers in Nairobi.
University councils serve as the top governing bodies in public universities, responsible for overall oversight, strategic direction and policy approval.
Their duties include hiring senior staff, appointing Vice-Chancellors, approving budgets, ensuring compliance with laws and protecting institutional reputation.
The recruitment comes as universities prepare for fresh student intake through the national placement exercise run by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service.
The application window for the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education candidates was opened on April 7.
Data from the Ministry of Education shows that 270,715 candidates qualified for university admission after attaining a minimum grade of C+ and above in the 2025 KCSE examinations.
The appointments are expected to strengthen governance structures as institutions prepare for increased enrolment and operational demands.
The process is being overseen by the State Department for Higher Education under Beatrice Muganda Inyangala.
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