CUE warns public over unaccredited varsities
Commission for University Education chairman Henry Thairu at a past press briefing. The commission has warned the public against enrolling at universities that are not accredited. FILE PHOTO | JAMES EKWAM | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The commission boss said the public needs to know, for example, that it does not recognise doctoral degrees awarded to five students from Kisii University.
- Prof Thairu also released a list of campuses that have been identified for closure as they scored less than 50 per cent in the evaluation criteria.
The Commission for University Education (CUE) has warned the public against enrolling at universities that are not accredited by them.
Addressing a press conference in Nairobi on Friday, CUE chairman Henry Thairu said the commission would not recognise the certificates issued by the institutions.
The commission has already released a list of university campuses that are unaccredited, which have been identified for closure.
“The individuals will take responsibilities of having just a paper certificate if they decide to get enrolled in unaccredited campuses,” said Prof Thairu.
The commission boss said the public needs to know, for example, that it does not recognise doctoral degrees awarded to five students from Kisii University.
HIGHLY IRREGULAR
“The PhD admission of the five students was highly irregular based on a postgraduate transfer policy that is not provided [for] in either the Kisii University Statute or the University Standards and Guidelines, 2014,” said Prof Thairu.
The commission boss also released a list of campuses that have been identified for closure as they scored less than 50 per cent in the evaluation criteria.
These are Kisii University campuses in Eldoret, Eldama Ravine, Nyamira, Kabarnet, Migori, Ogembo, Keroka, Kehancha, Kapenguria and Isebania, and Laikipia University's Nyahururu Town campus.
The shortcomings of these universities is that some of them are situated in areas not compatible with a suitable learning environment, as they are close to bars, brothels or casinos.
Others are located in noisy environments, such as near bus stops and airports, while some are in areas harmful to students’ health, such as near quarries, dumpsites or factories.
The commission boss also warned Kisii University against defying the order to close their campuses, saying CUE has the powers to withdraw the licences if they contravene the law.
“Kisii University stay put at your own peril, it is inconceivable that they would defy the orders of the authority that accredited them, we have the powers to withdraw those licences or any institutions that contravenes the law,” said Prof Thairu.
