He is anti-Raila and that might have been a consideration. Later on he came tops in an interview. But his tenure has been mediocre if you consider what Prof Mugenda of KU has done and even Moi university has really kicked arse..buying off Baazar plaza...and now developing a plot hapo Utalii...and even JKUAT done very well....all of those 3 have overseen many new campus all over the country.
What has UON done..nothing...except take over Kenya science college...and maybe the new vision 2030 plaza.
Prof Magoha tenure has been mediocre to say the least. Nairobi has slipped kabisa.....
Magoha was hand picked by Kibaki regime back in the day to stem in on SONU (by influencing the choice of chair) for political reasons.