Moi University law students face uncertain future

Moi University acting vice-chancellor Prof Laban Ayiro. The fate of 1,000 students pursuing law degrees at the university hangs in the balance after the Council of Legal Education insisted that it does not recognise the course. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  OUMA WANZALA

What you need to know:

  • The Council of Legal Education has asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute the university for giving false information on its law degree.
  • The Commission for University Education called for candid talks among all parties rather than confrontation.
  • Moi University acting vice-chancellor, Prof Laban Ayiro, said the institution offered legal education that meets national, regional and global standards.

The fate of 1,000 students pursuing law degrees at Moi University hangs in the balance after the Council of Legal Education maintained that it does not recognise the course.

The council has asked Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko to prosecute the university for giving false information on its law degree.

At the same time, the Commission for University Education called for candid talks among all parties rather than confrontation. The council’s chief executive officer, Prof Wanyama Kulundu-Bitonye, accused the university of failing to adhere to the requirements laid down by the team for offering legal education.

Also Read

“We shall uphold and enforce the law without fear or favour and without discrimination and with respect,” said Prof Kulundu-Bitonye.

PROVISIONAL LICENCE

He explained that the university in 2009 was granted a provisional licence to offer legal education for one year.

“In 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015, the provisional licence was extended to allow the university to meet the quality standards set by the law. On each occasion, the university fell short of the standards and benchmarks,” he said.

Prof Kulundu-Bitonye added that an audit report had revealed that the law school could not deliver the courses.

However, the university’s acting vice-chancellor, Prof Laban Ayiro, said the institution offered legal education that meets national, regional and global standards.

He said the bachelor of law course was fully accredited by the Commission for University Education. The commission chairman, Prof Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha, called for dialogue to end the stalemate.

TEACH LAW

The legal education council says only 10 universities are allowed to teach law. On April 4 last year, High Court judge George Odunga told the council it could not stop the university from offering the courses.

Meanwhile, the Bohra community plans to establish a university in Kenya to provide Islamic and other religious as well as secular education.

The representative of the religious community said this when he paid a courtesy call on Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i in his office yesterday. The delegation was led by Shabbir Hebatullah and Mustafa Abdullabhai.

Dr Matiang’i thanked the community for its part in the social-economic development of the country.

In the headlines