53,000 set to join public universities

Some 53,010 students have been admitted to the 22 public universities.

This is an increase of about 11,000 from the previous year in which 42,000 students got places.

The admissions board lowered the cut-off points for female learners.

A Joint Admissions Board (JAB) statement Monday said entry points for female students had been lowered from 60 to 59 or a B to B- grade. The cut-off point for male students remained 61 or a B plain, while students with disability who got a C+ and above were admitted regardless of the aggregate.

Under the board’s affirmative action criteria, 2,979 more female students were admitted and an additional 94 from arid areas who scored a C+ and above.

But even as the board made the announcement, the legality of its decision was challenged by the National Association of Private Universities of Kenya (Napuk), which argued that the responsibility of admitting students lay in the hands of the newly formed Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service.

Napuk chairman Simon Gicharu said JAB was operating outside the law, according to the provisions in the Universities Act.

He asked the ministry to establish the placement body.

However, JAB chairperson Mabel Imbuga (below) said the board had no choice but to conduct the admissions as time was running out.

“We could not wait for the new outfit to be in place since the students are expected to report in September,” said Prof Imbuga, who is the JKUAT vice-chancellor.

Moi University took the highest number of students.