CUE okays varsities to set up new campuses

The Commission for University Education (CUE) has allowed all universities that had applied to set up new campuses before last month’s ban by the government to proceed and set them up.

However, CUE Chief executive officer David Some said the commission will not be considering any further applications for the establishment of new campuses.

“The pending existing campuses, which have already been declared to the Commission by the University shall be inspected with a view of seeking to establish compliance to the legal framework in Kenya on campuses establishment,” said Prof Some in a letter to Vice-chancellors of all chartered universities dated March 29, 2016.

He said the ban is still on until further notice.

Last month, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i suspended setting up of more satellite campuses in a move that was aimed at protecting the integrity of higher education as well stop exploitation of students.

The Cabinet Secretary directed CUE not to approve any satellite campus unless it is properly justified.

“We cannot allow these madness to continue in the education sector. We must put a stop to it,” he said then.

Dr Matiang’I regretted that universities that were set up with core mandate had abandoned them and instead were introducing courses in order to get more money.

Currently, there are more than 70 fully fledged public and private universities in the country while another five University Colleges and a private college have been lined up to receive a charter and become fully fledged universities.

The Commission for University Education (CUE) has identified Rongo, Co-operative, Taita Taveta, Muranga, Embu University colleges for upgrade.

Kenya Assemblies of God (KAG) East Africa School of theology is also set to get a charter.

The Ministry of Education approved the request in January and President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to award the charter.