The Commission for University Education has given 11 university campuses 90 days to relocate their students to accredited campuses or the main campus.
Of the 11 closed, 10 are Kisii campuses in Western, Nyanza and Rift Valley.
CUE chairman Henry Thairu said: “Of great concern to the commission was the Kisii University, whose 13 campuses were inspected.”
Ten of the 13 fell below the expected threshold and have been identified for closure, Thairu said at Jogoo office yesterday.
Lack of qualified academic staff, evidence of ownership of facilities or valid lease agreement and appropriate library building are the reasons the commission cited for closure. Thairu said the sad state of affairs calls for an audit of all systems of Kisii University to ensure quality education.
The 10 Kisii University campuses facing shut down are in Eldoret, Eldama Ravine, Nyamira, Kabarnet, Migori, Ogembo, Keroka, Kehancha, Kapenguria and Isebania.
Some universities are still under review.
They are Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (Kisumu), JKUAT (Nakuru) and Kisii University campuses in Kisumu, Kericho and Kitale.
Others are Laikipia University campuses in Nakuru, Eldoret and Naivasha.
Others risking closure if they do not improve are Moi University campuses in Kitale and Odera Akang’o, University of Eastern Africa-Baraton (Eldoret), University of Eldoret and University of Kabianga (Kapkatet).
Thairu warned universities that will defy the order, saying they risk losing license.
If quality audit finds an institution has not met minimum qualifications, they risk losing the charter, CUE chief executive David Some said.
Mount Kenya University’s campuses in Nakuru, Kisii, Eldoret and Kitale have been accredited.
Others that have been accredited are Kenyatta University’s Kericho campus, Catholic University of East Africa (Eldoret), JKUAT (Kisii ) and St Paul University (Nakuru ).
