Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has directed universities and constituent colleges to capture biometric data of all students within the next 120 days.
Under the new directive through the Commission of University Education, institutions of higher learning will be required to obtain passport photographs, programmes and the year of study for every student.
“Under Section 5 (1) of the Universities Act, 2012, the commission is mandated with the responsibility of collecting, disseminating and maintaining data on university education in Kenya. Pursuant to this section, I now direct you to require all universities and constituent colleges, within the next one hundred and twenty days from the date of this letter,” he stated.
The details will also show students who reside within the institutions’ accommodation facilities.
“To ensure compliance with this directive, I will require the commission to, on a monthly basis report progress on the implementation of this system by all the respective universities and colleges, without fail,” he stated as he announced that he expected to receive the first progress report on May 16.
According to the CS, the new orders are in line with the government’s measures being undertaken to address insecurity and prevent terror attacks.
“As a result of the increased insecurity and terror attacks in Kenya, the government has taken measures to secure public places through enhanced security measures including installation of metal detectors and the use of biometric registration systems among others,” Matiang’i explained.
“My attention is drawn to the need to create further security bulwarks in all universities and constituency colleges to augment existing security measures, in response to the growing need.”
Garissa University College lost 147 students including staff members following an attack by the Al Shabaab terror group that invaded the university in the wee hours of April 2, 2015.
