Kisii University students march to protest closure of University campuses

Hooded Kisii University student leads a demonstration along the streets of Kisii town to condemn the closure of campuses owned by the university. (PHOTO: DENISH OCHIENG/ STANDARD)

KENYA: Kisii University students took to the streets on Monday morning over the revocations of some masters and closure of some campuses allied to the University.

The streets thronged to the streets chanting names of some of the Commissioners in the Commission for University Education.

The peacefully walked round the town and later on converged at the Kisii Governor's Office demanding his address.
However both the Governor James Ongwae and his Deputy Joash Maanagi were not in office.

Kisii Governor James Ongwae and Cabinet Secretary Education Dr Fred Matiangi were scheduled to chair a meeting in Kisii Monday over the matter but it aborted in the last.

Kisii University President Jeff Mitei who led the demonstrations called on the commission to stick to their mandate of orienting the Universities.

"The commission should highlight areas of correction and not punishing students and staff. They should give young universities time to grow. Funding to some of these Universities cannot even support staff. We need more funding to put up infrastructure," said Mitei.

On Sunday the Commission ran a full page advert in the dailies justifying their action to close down the 10 campuses allied to the Kisii University.

In the advert, the commission maintained that inspection of campuses in Kenya is still ongoing and currently, consideration is being given to the central, Eastern and coast regions of Kenya.

The commission noted that they are mandated under section 20(1) of the Universities Act No.42 of 2012and section 43 of the Universities Regulation 201, to regulate establishment of University campuses in Kenya.

Last week, Kisii University Vice Chancellor Prof John Akama said that he received the letter on Friday morning and had not been given time to respond to some of the issues raised.

"We risk sending home over 15,000 students and 400 workers if the Commission goes ahead to implement their recommendations. We have established all those campuses as per the requirements," said Prof Akama.