Beef up security in hostels outside universities, Education CS Kaimenyi says

Education Cabinet Secretary Prof Jacob Kaimenyi. Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary-General Wilson Sossion said they want President Kenyatta to replace him. FILE PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Kaimenyi said security in private and public learning institutions is a collective responsibility of the universities, the neighbouring community and the government.
  • Universities have been grappling with shortage of accommodation for students.

Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi has called for improved security in hostels outside institutions of higher learning.

He urged universities to liaise with owners of such hostels to ensure safety of students.

In a speech read on his behalf during a graduation ceremony at the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology on Friday, Mr Kaimenyi said security in private and public learning institutions is a collective responsibility of the universities, the neighbouring community and the government.

“It is important that the community is fully integrated in the university security systems to insure the university and its neighbourhood are safe,” he said.

Mr Kaimenyi’s directive came a month after 148 people were killed in an attack on Garissa University College by Al-Shabaab militants.

Universities have been grappling with shortage of accommodation for students after the Ministry of Education introduced an accelerated admission programme to eliminate the waiting period between sitting of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination and admission to university.

The move caused universities to double intake of students in a year. As a result, public universities are not able accommodate all the students they admit forcing many to seek housing outside the university hostels.

Mr Kaimenyi reassured engineering students at the university that their certificates will be recognised as the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) were satisfied with the institution’s capacity to offer four engineering programs.

“We know wait for the final resolution of the Board so that the students graduating may get into the next phase of their professional careers without any impediments,” he said.

Engineering students at the university had early this year complained that they might not be able to get employment as the program had not been accredited by EBK.

Vice chancellor Prof Ndirangu Kioni said the university has maintained a cordial relationship with the community.