By Mahmood Mwanduka, Devreporter, Kilifi County
Key highlights
- A private college owner withholds academic certificates for sponsored students after closing down the college in Rabai Constituency Kilifi County.
- Students have been told to pay for storage and transport fees to get their KNEC academic certificates despite having no fee arrears.
- The college was closed down due to failing to meet the set Ministry of Education requirements.
As it is often stated that education is an integral part for a successful life, many people across the globe are investing a lot in ensuring that they have quality education.
Generally, students have great desires to excel in their education and eventually receive their academic credentials either from public or private institutions in which they enroll to further their studies.
In Kenya, there have been cases where learning institutions, directors and other groups of individuals in the administration of learning institutions hold academic certificates after students complete their studies.
In most cases, withholding of academic certificates is linked to huge fee arrears accumulated during students’ stay in the institutions.
However, to tens of students from former Rising Star Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) Teachers Training College in Ruruma Ward, Rabai Subcounty in Kilifi County, the situation is unmatched.
The college, which was being operated as a private institution, had about 50 students from less fortunate families who were fully sponsored by the Ward Scholarship programme under the former area Member of the County Assembly (MCA) Hon. Jana Tsuma Jana. But the students have had their academic certificates withheld after completing their studies.
Despite the college being a private institution, Mr. Jana chose it due to its proximity to the majority of the students.
Reasons for Withholding
Christine Kwekwe, who spoke to RB News, was one of the students at the institution. She says that although she completed her studies successfully, after a short period of time, the college was closed down due to reasons unknown to her.
According to her, towards the end of their stay at the college, they sat for their final exams for the award of certificates while others pursued diplomas.
However, after following up to get her certificate from the Director of the institution, Mr. Leornard Abonyo, she was shocked to be told that she has fees arrears of around Ksh. 5, 000
“The Director said that I have a balance of Ksh.4, 700 to pay before he releases my certificate,” said Christine.
Another student, Fredrick Muta, from the same institution, has been going through the same ordeal until mid-October 2023 when the Director sent the academic certificate.
According to the students, they have preserved the money transaction messages after sending the money to the institution.
The institution is said to have enrolled only students who were examined under the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC).
Consequences of Withholding
Because of their certificates being withheld, the students claim to have failed to get employment as well being blocked from advancing their education.
Mr. Ganzala Chiponda, an advocate of the High Court of Kenya, says that there is no provision in the Kenyan constitution allowing anyone to withhold an academic certificate.
“It is contrary to the laws of Kenya for anyone to hold academic certificates,” Chiponda insisted.
Actions
On his part Mr. Abonyo told RB News that he was the owner of the college, and insisted that there were no sponsored student whose certificates were still being withheld.
“Anyone that I have his or her certificates know the reason so let them do what is necessary,” Abonyo asserted.
But Mr. Abonyo has never released the certificates even after Christine and others sent the demanded money about four months later, and whenever they call him, he does not pick their calls.
Rabai Subcounty Education Director Mrs. Mariam Ngome distanced herself from the saga claiming that she could not intervene since the college was a private institution.
“If it were a public institution I could assist,” said Mrs. Ngome.
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