As other
institutions in the country prepare to resume in September, the University of
Nairobi will remain closed until 2021.
According
to Vice-Chancellor Professor Kiama Gitahi, the university senate decided not to
have any on-campus learning until next year as they help fight the spread of
COVID-19.
Prof. Kiama
said regular learning would resume after being advised by experts on the status
of COVID-19 in the institution.
"The
University of Nairobi, as you recognize, is at the epicenter of COVID-19, and
we are responsible people to observe how the situation is unfolding and only
allow on-campus learning when we have been advised by the experts that it's
safe to do so," said Prof. Kiama.
This means
that students who will be joining the university for the first time would be
admitted online and resume their classes once they have registered.
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The
graduation ceremony scheduled to take place on September 25 this year will also
be done virtually.
"The
graduation which is scheduled for September 25 will also be done online, and
that is the position of the institution.
"By
Saturday morning, we had 21 cases of positive staff, and the numbers are
increasing. We've lost others, and it's a fact," added Prof. Kiama.
The VC
pointed out that the university has over 65,000 students, and allowing them
back before the COVDI-19 curve flattens would be a bad idea.
"UoN
has over 65,000 students who live in all parts of Nairobi. You cannot tell us
that putting sanitizer in the hostels will help. Until we are advised by
expert, we do not think will reopen anytime soon," said the VC.
