A parliamentary committee has questioned the effectiveness of a Sh43 million digital platform used to handle accreditation of university programmes, citing serious concerns about its performance and output.
The system, managed by the Commission for University Education, is now under scrutiny after lawmakers flagged errors and delays that could disrupt the approval of academic courses.
The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance, led by Bumula MP Jack Wanami Wamboka on Thursday, said findings presented before it showed the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) has been generating unreliable data and failing to communicate updates on time. The committee warned that such shortcomings weaken the entire accreditation process and raise questions about accountability.
Wamboka told the Commission that public funds must be put to proper use, stressing that any system meant to support a key national function must meet expectations.
“Public resources must deliver value. A system that produces inaccurate data and delays critical processes defeats the very purpose it was procured for and we expect accountability and a clear roadmap on how these gaps will be sealed.” Wamboka said.
Members of the committee said the situation could have wider consequences if not addressed, noting that universities and students depend on a smooth and credible accreditation process. Bomachoge Chache MP Alpha Miruka pointed out that inconsistencies in approvals could interfere with academic planning and recognition of programmes.
“Accreditation is not a routine administrative process, it determines the quality and recognition of academic programmes. Any system supporting it must be reliable, responsive, and transparent.”Miruka said.
At the same time, Kilome MP Thuddeus Nzambia demanded a clear explanation on how such a costly system could fail to carry out basic tasks, saying the investment must be justified.
“We cannot justify such an investment if the system cannot perform core functions like accurate data processing and timely communication,” Nzambia added.
Appearing before the committee, Commission for University Education Chief Executive Officer Mike Kuria maintained that the platform was built to streamline communication across all stages of accreditation. He said the system alerts internal staff once applications are submitted, notifies peer reviewers when they are assigned work, and updates universities after initial assessments are done.
“The system dispatches notifications automatically at every critical stage of the accreditation workflow. From submission to review and feedback, all actors are kept informed through structured communication channels,” said Kuria.
He also noted that an online portal has been introduced to improve coordination with reviewers and ensure smoother engagement throughout the process.
Despite defending the system, Kuria admitted that there are areas that need improvement. He told lawmakers that the Commission has already begun reviewing how accreditation is handled, including making changes to the system to address the issues raised in the audit.
“We are already working on re-engineering the accreditation process. System enhancements and customization will address the gaps highlighted in the audit and improve overall efficiency,” he said.
Kuria further said that training is ongoing to help users better understand and operate the platform, with support teams assigned to guide each programme. He added that the Commission held talks with the system developer on March 23, 2026, where steps were agreed on to fix the challenges.
“We have engaged the system developer and agreed on practical steps to improve functionality. Continuous training and technical support are also being provided to ensure smooth system usage,” Kuria added.
