Kisii university condemns Commission's order to close its campuses

Kisii University Vice-Chancellor John Akama. The management of Kisii University has criticised an order to close 10 of its campuses by the Commission for University Education, saying the move is politically motivated. PHOTO | BRIAN MOSETI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • More than 15,000 students are said to be studying at it's the affected campuses which include Eldoret, Eldama Ravine, Nyamira, Kabarnet, Migori, Ogembo, Keroka, Kehancha, Kapenguria and Isebania.
  • The campus coordinator Rev Eliud Nyakundi said neither the management of Kisii University nor the Nyamira campus had received any inspection report or recommendation from CUE to warrant them to close down.

The management of Kisii University has criticised an order to close 10 of its campuses by the Commission for University Education, saying the move is politically motivated.

They were joined by representatives of lecturers who described the move as mischievous even as learning in most campuses said to have been closed went on without any hitches.

The leaders at the same time questioned why the Commission had by Wednesday not notified the University of the move.

Vice-Chancellor Prof John Akama said no official contact had been made by the Commission.

"We have learnt it from the press," said Prof Akama in a statement read on his behalf by Prof Morris Amutabi, the institution's Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic and Student's Affairs.

ULTIMATUM

On Wednesday CUE gave the University's management 90 days to relocate students from the affected centres to its main Campus in Kisii town.

More than 15,000 students are said to be studying at it's the affected campuses which include Eldoret, Eldama Ravine, Nyamira, Kabarnet, Migori, Ogembo, Keroka, Kehancha, Kapenguria and Isebania.

The University's Laikipia campus based in Nyahururu was also ordered to close shop by the commission.

On Wednesday, Prof Akama said they took great exception with the manner in which the commission was handling the matter.

"Information has been going round that some University Campuses may be facing possible closure. This information is disturbing and has caused anxiety among Kisii University Stakeholders,” said Prof Akama.

POLITICS

On Tuesday Professor James Mailutha, one of the Deputy Vice Chancellors, acknowledged that the Commission officers had done assessments on the campuses late November and had promised to give feedback in two weeks' time but had not done so.

"They inspected us between November 26 and 30 and indicated that they will avail the report within two weeks. To date the findings have not been communicated," said Prof Mailutha.

Kisii Universities Lecturers Union said they read politics behind the move.

"As a union, we read a lot of malice in this and we ask the commission to reevaluate its position. You cannot purport to close ten campuses with a population of more than 10,000 and just order them back to the main campus. Its impunity," said union chairman Henry Morara.

He cited Eldoret Campus saying it was one of the most vibrant campuses and hinted that malice could have instigated its closure.

Student Union Leaders said they will communicate 'more forcefully later'

"We wish stand with our university to condemn the move and we have written to them to express our displeasure," Jeff Mitei, the Union leader said.

NO REPORT

At the Migori, Isebania and Kehancha campuses, learning went on as usual despite the commission's order.

"We have complied with all the conditions they had set for us…we are therefore shocked by the closure order," said a tutor who opted to remain anonymous.

The three campuses in Migori have more than 1,500 students with over 100 employees including the tutors. The same situation was also witnessed in Nyamira.

The campus coordinator Rev Eliud Nyakundi said neither the management of Kisii University nor the Nyamira campus had received any inspection report or recommendation from CUE to warrant them to close down.

"All we remember is that CUE carried an inspection in November last year and we are yet to receive any report or findings out of it," Rev Nyakundi said.

Additional Reports by Elisha Otieno and Henry Nyarora