Tanzanian regulator closes JKUAT Arusha campus over quality

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) campus in Arusha has been stopped by Tanzania’s Commission for Universities (TCU) from admitting new students in the next academic year, which is scheduled to start on October 29.

TCU executive secretary Prof Charles Kihampa said that the decision was taken after an audit of the institutions.

However, JKUAT council chairman Paul Kanyari said the institution was supervised with the decision since they had agreed that the university exit Tanzania next year.

Prof Kanyari added that the university was yet to get a communication on the issue from the Tanzanian authority.

“We had an understanding with Tanzania’s Commission for Universities that we exit next year,” he said adding that the move was to ensure that current students are placed to other institutions.

JKUAT was among institution that were reprimanded by the Commission over quality lapses.

It ordered the closure of two university colleges and suspended enrolment in 12 others.

Prof Kanyari also disclosed that Rwanda campus has since been closed and students moved to other institutions.

“We are only remaining with a contact centre for small transaction for our former students,” he added.

JKUAT spent Sh10 million to start the Arusha centre and Sh21 million for the Kigali campus.

The Arusha campus was established in November 2010 while Kigali campus was established in 2012.

Prof Kanyari declined to disclose number of students currently in Arusha.

Last year, the government ordered Kenyatta University and JKUAT to shut their campuses outside Kenya.

Kenyatta University spent Sh370 million on setting up a campus in Rwanda and Sh53 million on establishing another in Arusha.