Universities oppose order to shut down by regulator

A day after the Commission of University Education ordered the closure of eight university campuses here in the city for failure to comply with university standards and regulations, some of them have opposed the recommendation.

The institutions have issued communication to students and staff to the effect that the commission was either wrong in its assessment or the faults were in no way related to the quality of service offered by themselves.

At the Egerton University Stanbank Building Campus next to the National Archives, operations were normal or so they seemed. About 2,000 students study from these premises that the Commission of University Education feels are unfit. Outside the building are busy streets with people and motorists going about their businesses.

The university Vice Chancellor Professor James Tuitoek has written to the students and staff saying he is surprised by the commission’s verdict. He claims they are yet to be formally communicated to about the decision about closure of the university.

The decision was not official

In the same building the Africa Nazarene University Campus is housed, they too have communicated to students and staff saying the main issue leading to CUE’s decision was about concerns on the external environment around the campus, and nothing to do with the quality of education offered by the university.

But Africa Nazarene has been hit twice, their Agrho House Campus has also been ordered for closure. Officers here preferred not saying so much, only indicating their top management were in a meeting and would comment about the matter later. But just next to the institution’s reception on the third floor are businesses in the rank of barber shops, boutiques among other small establishments. Outside the building, passenger vehicles are busy at work.

At the South Eastern Kenya University Campus in the Development House, our efforts to speak to the management were futile. We were told the campus director was on a lunch break, but would talk to us on phone once she returned.

Other institutions marked for possible closure are city campuses of Masinde Muliro, Dedan Kimathi, St Paul’s University, Multimedia and JKUAT’s Westlands Campus. Most of these hold they are compliant with the regulations, and if not, it was a matter external rather than internal.