By Roy Hezron
A special Committee which was to fast track the classification of public universities and the establishment of a National University of Kenya was called off before starting its duties.
According to high placed sources at the Ministry of Education who spoke to Education News on condition of anonymity for fear of victimization the committee was called off before commencing its duties after some disagreements arose on the members appointed and its purpose.
“There was a controversy on the members appointed in the committee hence it was disbanded completely and told that it was not a priority at the moment,” stated the source.
The committee was supposed to developed criteria to develop policies on Kenya Elite Universities Recognition Class and also came up with a proposal on the establishment of the National University of Kenya (NUKE).
The committee which was constituted in September last year was given three months to conclude its tasks and submit the results of its findings by November to the Principal Secreaty of Education.
The special committee was composed of 10 members chaired by Prof. Paul Baki of the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), Dr. George Ondoro (Kisii University), Dr. Guyo, S. Huka (Meru University) and Prof. Anne Amadi (Great Lakes University of Kisumu) as members.
Others are Prof. Alex Mmumbo (TUK), Prof. Josphine Ngaira- (MMUST), Dr. Fredrick Gravenir (Kenyatta University), Prof. Godrick Matthews (Maasai Mara University), Dr. Rahma Udu (TUM) and Prof Ernest Muhochi (Kibabii University).
The committee was to further undertake a desktop study on global institutions and derive best practice, establish challenges facing the universities in terms of recognition and global competiveness, provide objectives, policy statements and guidelines befitting policy.
