The decision by the Council of Legal Education (CLE) to close Moi University’s school of law was ill advised and should be rescinded immediately, according to Nixon Sifuna, a professor of law at the institution.
Speaking at Panpaper village in Lugari Sub County, Professor Nixon Sifuna voiced his concern over the decision to close the faculty of law, saying some of the issues raised by the council were not genuine.
According to the council’s inspection report, the institution’s law school performed poorly in virtually all key areas looked over including infrastructure, academic staff qualifications, curriculum, modes of delivery and library services.
However, according to Prof. Sifuna, the main challenge at the law school has purely to do with infrastructure and library services, but not the quality of staff and teaching.
“The main challenge at Moi University’s school of law is a purely infrastructural one and it has nothing to do with the academic staff qualifications or quality of teaching at the institution,” said Prof. Sifuna. Adding that the faculty had some of the best law lecturers in the country and in fact in the entire East and Central Africa region.
He pointed an accusing finger at the university’s administration, blaming it for failing to put up sufficient academic structures, especially a well equipped library, in order to meet the needs of the growing number of students as well as teaching and non teaching staff.
“It is sad to note the institution doesn’t have a library for law students and I think that is the only area I can admit we scored badly,” regretted Sifuna.
Sifuna hailed law professors and lecturers at the faculty, singling out the Senate Leader of Majority, Prof. Kithure Kindiki and Mombasa County Senator, Omar Hassan, as some of the best legal brains that have passed through their hands.
The academician assured the public that the current group of students will pursue their studies to the end, even if the CLE fails to rescind its decision over closure of the institution.
