A few days after the Commission of University Education ordered the closure of 10 campuses affiliated to Kisii University, two leaders from Nyamira county have criticized the decision.
CUE had ordered the institution to close a number of its campuses countrywide terming them as having insufficient facilities and infrastructure alongside violation of basic university education principles as the major reasons behind the decision.
However on Saturday, Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire and Nyamira county women representative Alice Chae were unanimous that the decision was ill advised and urged the Ministry of Education to intervene and solve the stalemate.
“This is a tragedy and i think that the commission is not being fair. We are talking about the future of very many students and I think the decision should have considered those that would be affected,” Bosire said.
Mrs. Chae on her part termed the decision as arbitrary and challenged the education CS Dr. Fred Matiang’i to intervene and help the institution and CUE to come up with a favorable decision that would not interfere with the rights of students.
“I understand that quality is important but it’s something that can be improved. Closing 10 branches of Kisii University means that thousands of students will be affected. The Ministry of Education should chip in and help the two sides to come up with an amicable decision,” she said.
Bosire however urged the institution to learn from their mistakes and strengthen areas that were controversial in the report submitted by CUE.
“I know quality is important than even having the numbers to institutions. The university must in the future ensure that these campuses are properly equipped for the sake of quality. What we want is to see the commission giving the institution a second chance,” he said when addressing residents of Keroka.
Two of the affected campuses Keroka and Nyamira are situated in Nyamira county.