12 Kenyan campuses face closure in fresh purge

A Commission for University Education's (CUE) audit has identified 12 campuses for immediate closure.

This brings to 20 the total number of campuses earmarked for closure, in addition to the eight satellite campuses identified in Nairobi last year.

The 2016 audit report has also put some 17 campuses under review and given them three months notice to comply with the universities' regulations or risk closure.

In the latest purge, 10 campuses of Kisii University shall be closed down. The report names Kisii University campuses in Eldoret, Eldama Ravine, Nyamira, Kabarnet, Migori, Ogembo, Keroka, Kehancha, Kapenguria, Isebania and Nyahururu.

"Of great concern to the commission was Kisii University, whose 13 campuses in Western, Nyanza and Rift Valley regions were inspected. However, 10 of the 13 fell below the expected threshold and have been identified for closure. The commission is, therefore considering auditing all the systems of Kisii University to ensure quality in the delivery of university education," reads the report.

Laikipia University campus in Nyahururu shall also be shut down. Also mentioned is Kabarak University's, Nairobi campus. The audit was carried out between September and October last year. Only 19 campuses were accredited.

However, Kisii University campuses in Nairobi, Kisumu and Kericho have been put under review alongside Laikipia University campuses in Nakuru, Eldoret and Naivasha, KCA University's Monrovia Plaza campus, JKUAT University's Karen and Nakuru campuses and Catholic University of East Africa's Nairobi campus.

 RELOCATE STUDENTS

"The universities of the campuses identified for closure in the latter circuit, especially in Western, have been given a 90-day notification period to wind up and relocate the students to accredited campuses," reads the report. Other campuses put under review are the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Kisumu campus, Moi University Kitale and Odero Akang'o campuses, University of Eldoret, University of Eastern Africa Baraton and University of Kabianga (Kapkatet).

The latest list of campuses to be shut is in addition to the eight in Nairobi that were earmarked for closure last year, for failure to comply with set universities' regulations.

St Pauls University's Church House campus, Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology's Westlands campus, Egerton University's Nairobi city campus, Africa Nazarene University's Agrho House campus and the South Eastern Kenya University's Nairobi campus were identified for closure last year.

Dedan Kimathi University of Technology's campus in Nairobi, Multi-Media University and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology's campuses were also listed. But the universities appealed the verdict and were given six months to address the issues raised.