After years of intense lobbying, Kisii University College (KUC) has finally hit homestretch to becoming a fully-fledged, autonomous campus. Chair of the KUC Council, Joseph Nyasani says the process to the university being awarded a charter is on course and may be accomplished in the next six months, but that is dependent on how fast the Education ministry acts.

Prof Nyasani said they had set the motion by writing a memorandum to Higher Education Minister William Ruto who will in turn take matter to the Parliament for members to establish the Kisii University Charter through an Act. "We have done our part as per the President Kibaki’s directive and what is remaining is for the minister and Parliament but we’re hoping it will take the shortest time possible because it is eagerly awaited," Prof Nyasani told The Standard during an interview. 

Gear conference

Prof Nyasani said KUC would revolutionise all spheres of life in the region including stimulating the economy, reviving education standards and research. Already the university has captured the attention of sons and daughters of the soil in the Diaspora who have identified it as a centre to revive declining academic standards in the region.

Last week, the scholars mostly based in the US under auspices of Gusii Education and Advancement Resources (Gear) held the fifth annual education stakeholders conference at the institution. Gear chairman, Joshua Bagaka, a US-based scholar said Kenyans in the Diaspora were teaming up with locals to support schools with books and other facilities to improve their performance. The initiative demonstrates that professionals are taking education matters a notch higher by not leaving everything to politicians. Kitutu Masaba MP Walter Nyambati urged Gusii professionals and parents to motivate teachers and children to help revive education standards in the region which he said had sank to their lowest ebb.

"We flew all the way from the US to this place because we’re touched by the falling education standards and wish to establish where the rain started beating us so we can fix the problem," said Mr Matunda Nyanchama. KUC Principal John Akama said the college was well prepared and equal to the task of running its affairs. 

"We have started five new faculties and established more programmes in line with the dynamics of the market," he said.

World class

Prof Akama lauded the visiting scholars for recognising KUC as a centre for research to improve academic performance in the country and regionally. Currently, he said, KUC has 5,000 students under self-sponsored and Joint Admission Board programmes.

To quench the biting thirst for higher education, Prof Akama said KUC management had established three campus including Kisii Town, Nyamira and Keroka to actualise a long held plan to ensure education for all. "We’re offering word class courses and our elevation could not have come at a better time," Prof Akama told Education.