Public to give views on university accreditation rules

Education CS Julius Ogamba. /MOE

The Ministry of Education has invited education sector stakeholders and members of the public to submit views on proposed regulations that will govern the establishment, accreditation and quality assurance of universities across the country.

In a public notice issued in consultation with the Commission for University Education (CUE), the ministry said it has developed the draft Universities (General) Regulations, 2026 and a Regulatory Impact Statement and is seeking public participation before the proposals are finalised.

The ministry said the proposed regulations are intended to provide a legal and administrative framework for various aspects of university education, including accreditation, academic programme approvals, quality audits and oversight of institutions offering university-level training.

“The main objective of the Regulations is to inter alia, provide for procedures for establishment and accreditation of universities, constituent colleges and campuses, approval of academic programmes in accredited universities, quality audit of universities and specialized degree awarding institutions, audit of academic programmes, licensing student recruitment agencies and activities by foreign universities/institutions offering university education and collaborations leading to the award of an academic qualifications,” the notice stated.

The ministry further said it has prepared a Regulatory Impact Statement in accordance with the Statutory Instruments Act to assess the likely effects of the proposed regulations on education sector stakeholders and the public.

“Further, pursuant to section 8 of the Statutory Instruments Act, (Cap.2A) the Cabinet Secretary for Education notifies the Education Sector stakeholders and members of the public that the Ministry has prepared a Regulatory Impact Statement to assess the impact of the proposed Regulations on Education Sector stakeholders and members of the general public,” the notice stated.

The ministry said the move is part of efforts to comply with constitutional requirements on public participation and the provisions of the Statutory Instruments Act governing the development of subsidiary legislation.

It has invited stakeholders, members of the public and interested parties to submit written comments, views and proposals on both the draft regulations and the Regulatory Impact Statement.

According to the notice, comments must be submitted within 14 days from the date of publication.

“The Regulations and the Regulatory Impact Statement are available via the Commission's website at www.cue.or.ke/downloads,” the ministry said.

Written memoranda may be submitted physically to the Commission for University Education offices along Red Hill Road off Limuru Road in Nairobi during official working hours or sent electronically through the commission’s designated email address.

To facilitate public participation, the ministry has scheduled regional consultation forums across the country beginning June 8 and ending June 17.

The exercise will start with meetings in Kisii and Kilifi on June 8, targeting stakeholders from Nyanza and Coast regions respectively.

Additional consultations will be held in Kakamega and Kitui on June 10 for stakeholders from Western and Lower Eastern regions, while forums in Eldoret and Garissa are scheduled for June 12 to collect views from North Rift and North Eastern regions.

On June 15, consultations will be held in Nakuru and Meru for stakeholders from South Rift and Upper Eastern regions.

The final public participation meetings are scheduled for June 17 in Nyeri and Nairobi, bringing together stakeholders from Central Kenya and the Nairobi metropolitan region.

The ministry said stakeholders should submit their proposals using a prescribed format indicating the specific regulation, proposed amendment, comment and justification for the recommendation.

The consultations are expected to inform the final version of the Universities (General) Regulations, 2026 before they are considered for implementation.