KAFUCO To Be Awarded A Charter Before August Elections

The news comes amid allegations that Kaimosi Friends University College (KAFUCO) has been recommended for a charter by the Commission for University Education (CUE). 

Khaniri has led the charge for the charter, presenting a petition to President Uhuru Kenyatta in February this year, requesting that the constituent college of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology be upgraded to a complete university.

"I handed a petition to the President, and we had a long discussion on the same, and he gave me his word that they are following all the necessary procedures by CUE." said the senator.

Khaniri said that CUE had authorized KAFUCO for the much-needed improvement, noting that the move is part of the petition that he brought to Kenyatta.

The senator said the State House responded positively to the petition, bolstering optimism that the county will host Kenya's first university since independence in 1963.

He claimed the president told him that CUE will complete all relevant procedures before being awarded the charter.

"We are waiting, and hopefully, the processes are over, and the awarding of a charter should happen before we go to the polls," Khaniri said.

Khaniri stated that the campaign for the charter is nearing completion, assuring citizens that Vihiga County's dream of hosting its first chartered university is becoming a reality.

Defense CS Eugene Wamalwa claimed the charter would be issued before President Kenyatta's last term ends in January while attending a funeral in Vihiga.

The college has undergone significant infrastructure and administrative modifications in preparation for the charter's award.

According to Khaniri, the college has all the necessary facilities to become a full-fledged university and asked the president to follow through on his promise to pave the Kaimosi education complex loop road.

"There is enough land and infrastructure. There are students and a catchment area," the senator said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to visit the county in June and present the charter.

Where is KAFUCO located?

KAFUCO stands for Kaimosi Friends University College, a public institution established in 2014, and on May 22, 2015, it was designated as a constituent college of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.

KAFUCO is an education, training, research, and innovation center that contributes largely to empowering the students and society at large. Excellence and Student Engagement; Technological Enhancement and Infrastructure; Research, Innovation, Outreach and Linkages; and Sustainability are the underlying pillars of the University College.

The institution is located in the massive, greenery, and historically significant Kaimosi Complex, between Shamakhokho and Cheptul townships, 500m off the Chavakali-Kapsabet Road. It is around 35 kilometers from Kisumu, Kakamega, and Kapsabet towns.

It is the culmination of the Kaimosi Friends Church's more than ten institutions, which include Jumuia Hospital-Kaimosi, Friends (Technical) College Kaimosi, Kaimosi Girls and Boys High Schools, Kaimosi Theological College, Kaimosi TTC, Kaimosi Vocational Training Institute, a Special school, and several primary schools.

The college offers certificates, diplomas, and undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in over 15 programs ranging from Business and Economics, Computing and Information Technology, Education and Social Sciences to Nursing courses.

KAFUCO's goal of being listed among the world's best universities based on academic excellence and research may soon be realized, propelling it to even higher heights.

What is a chartered university?

A university charter is a document that authorizes the establishment or recognition of an institution. In Kenya, accreditation entails public recognition and certification, as indicated by the award of a Charter, that a university has met and continues to meet the Commission's academic excellence standards.

Kenya has 30 public universities, 30 chartered private universities, and 30 universities with interim authority letters (LIA).

The Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) keeps track of all credible institutions, qualifications, and learners in Kenya; the KNQA website lists Kenya's chartered universities.

In his reign, President Uhuru Kenyatta has awarded charters to several universities, including the National Defence College, Rongo University College, Co-operative University College of Kenya, Murang'a University College, and Taita Taveta University College. This was to increase access to higher education in the country.