Professor Wanjohi, through her lawyer Chris Mutuku, had moved to court seeking orders to stop the appointment of a new vice chancellor at the university.
She also asked the court to direct the Kenyatta University Council to renew her contract as Deputy Vice-Chancellor once it expires on July 31, 2026.
The court had initially granted her the interim orders sought in the application.
However, in a ruling delivered on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Justice Mwangi announced her decision to recuse herself from the matter, citing concerns arising from an interaction involving an advocate linked to the case.
According to the judge, the decision followed a visit to the Kiambu High Court on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, by advocate Steve Ogolla, who reportedly sought to engage her regarding the applications filed by Professor Wanjohi.
Justice Mwangi stated that upon his arrival at the court premises, Advocate Ogolla informed her aide that he wished to see her, a request she declined.
The judge noted that the incident raised concerns about the propriety of continuing to handle the matter, prompting her to step aside in order to preserve the integrity of the proceedings and maintain public confidence in the judicial process.
The dispute before the court centres on the leadership transition at Kenyatta University, where the process of appointing a new vice chancellor has sparked legal and administrative contention.
Professor Wanjohi is seeking to block any move to replace the current arrangements until her contractual position as Deputy Vice-Chancellor is formally addressed by the university council.
Her legal team argues that the process being undertaken by the council may affect her rights and contractual expectations, hence the need for court intervention.
The matter has attracted attention within academic and legal circles due to its implications for governance and succession planning in public universities.
With Justice Mwangi’s recusal, the file is expected to be assigned to another judge of the Kiambu High Court for directions and further hearing.