Government's crackdown on illegal middle level colleges

Technical, Industrial, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (Tiveta) Director General Kipkurui Langat yesterday led a team to shut the Regional Institute of Business Management.PHOTO: COURTESY

The government has launched a nationwide crackdown of unlicensed middle level colleges.

The two-day exercise that kicked off in Nairobi yesterday, saw some five institutions shut and a similar number targeted today.

The number is however expected to rise as crackdown is extended outside the city.

Technical, Industrial, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (Tiveta) Director General Kipkurui Langat yesterday led a team to shut the Regional Institute of Business Management.

The college, situated along Moi Avenue, was closed for failing to meet the set standards.

It also emerged that Maseno University pulled out of a collaboration but the institution allegedly continues to use the partnership to shore enrollments.

NO CAPACITY

Also closed was Technical Institute located next to Jeevanjee Garden. The college was closed for offering health science programme, which Mr Langat said, 'it does not have the capacity to teach.'

Also closed down was Bonjour Institute also located in the city center. Mr Langat said the closure of the institutions will continue and will be conducted in line with Tiveta Act, 2013.

"It is unfortunate that some unscrupulous business persons have continued to con Kenyans by setting up illegal colleges. We will shut all of them," he said.

Section 17 of the Act says: "No person or institution shall offer training in Kenya unless the person or institution has been accredited, licensed and registered under this Act to offer such training."

"One of the functions of the authority is to inspect, license, register and accredit training institutions and to undertake or cause to be undertaken regular monitoring evaluation and inspection of training to ensure compliance with set standards and guidelines," said Mr Langat.

He said the closure underscores the Authorities' aim of providing competent skilled workforce.