University closure causes confusion, anxiety in Naivasha

Students, professionals and leaders from Naivasha, Nakuru County have petitioned the Head of State to intervene over the planned closure of Laikipia University’s Naivasha Campus, terming the move as a big blow to them.

They noted that this was the only institution of higher learning in the sub-county adding that its closure spells doom for the town and hundreds of students seeking to further their education.

In August, the management of the University announced the closure of various campuses across the country from January 2017 following a directive by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

In a letter to the students, the University said that it would be closing Naivasha, Mararal, Embu, Eldoret and Nairobi campuses.

Addressing the press in Naivasha on Wednesday, September 28, students’ leader, Renny Chege, said that majority of the students in the campus were government employees who attended classes in the evening.

Chege noted that they would be forced to terminate their studies as they could not be able to relocate to the main campus in Nyahururu as directed.

“This marks the saddest day for the town as over 500 students risk immaturely terminating their studies. We are now seeking intervention of the President,” he said.

He noted that they had raised the issue with elected leaders but no action had been taken.

“This campus serves students from as far as Kiambu, Narok and Nyandarua Counties and only a handful will make it to the Nyahururu main campus.”

A local leader, James Kiiru, noted that the Main Campus did not have the capacity and facilities to accommodate all the students.

He proposed that the government intervenes so that the students could use the NYS or KWS Training schools for their evening studies as the university looks for a solution.