CS Matiang'i Orders Shutdown of Presbyterian University of East Africa

Acting Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has ordered the shutdown of Presbyterian University of East Africa (PUEA) after he revoked its license of operation.

The CS ordered the Commission for University Education (CUE) to commence the process of dissolving the institution as stipulated in the Universities Act and University regulations. The decision to close down the institution comes after recommendations made by the CUE.

In a letter to CUE chairman Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha, Matiang'i gave a go ahead to the commission to implement its recommendations in a report dated January 22th. CUE recommended that the letter of interim authority granted to the institution in 2007 be revoked.

The report indicates that employees at the university have not received their salaries since 2015 and the institution has unpaid arrears on salaries and allowances totaling to Sh611 million.

“The university had defaulted on remittance of staff salaries, deduction to financial institutions, leading to some staff members being listed at credit reference bureau,” reads the report.

It further says the institution does not have enough resources to meet its financial obligations given the deficit realized in 2012/2013, 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2015/2016 financial years.

“Salary structures were reported to be too high others too low. The employees lacked medical insurance despite the fact that it was provided for in terms and condition of service. It was established that there was a medical cover by Britam up to 2015,” says the report.