Students at Uzima University have condemned media reports alleging that the institution fails to meet required academic standards, describing the claims as misleading and damaging to the university’s reputation.
The students Association Chairperson Allan Kato said the reports had unfairly placed the institution and its management in a difficult position despite its accreditation and record of producing qualified medical professionals.
“We are alarmed over reports in a section of the media that Uzima does not meet certain standards,” Kato said.
Flanked by the association’s Secretary-General John Kimani, Kato urged those circulating the claims to verify their facts, insisting that the university’s academic credentials remain credible and recognized.
He said parents invest significant resources in educating their children at the institution and deserve confidence that graduates receive qualifications that meet professional standards.
Kato dismissed the allegations as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the university’s image.
The students’ remarks came after the university demanded a full retraction and public apology from media outlets that published reports claiming its medical school had failed to meet regulatory standards.
Vce-Chancellor Rev. Prof. Cosmas K’Otienoh said the reports, published from June 14, relied on inspection findings from 2019 and 2020 when the institution operated as Uzima University College and did not reflect its current status.
According to K’Otienoh, the university received a Letter of Interim Authority on March 4, 2020, before being granted a full charter on May 8, 2025, following evaluations by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) and East African Community partner states.
He said the university is currently listed among approved medical and dental training institutions by CUE, KMPDC, the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) and East African Community regulators.
K’Otienoh added that a joint East African Community re-inspection conducted on Nov. 25, 2024, awarded the institution a score of 80.9 out of 100.
“The assessment confirmed the institution meets national and international standards for training medical students, making its graduates eligible for recognition across EAC Partner States,” he said.
The vice-chancellor said inspections evaluated infrastructure, clinical training opportunities through teaching hospitals in Kisumu, Vihiga, Kisii and Siaya counties, faculty qualifications, student-to-lecturer ratios and curriculum compliance.
He argued that continued publication of outdated findings had harmed the university’s reputation and undermined confidence among academic partners, clinical collaborators and international research institutions.
The university has demanded a full retraction of the reports with equal prominence across print, digital and social media platforms, an immediate public apology, publication of corrective statements reflecting its current status and legal remedies for damages caused.
Student leaders also warned that the reports could negatively affect the professional prospects of medical students.
K’Otienoh reassured students, parents and partners that qualifications issued by the university remain fully accredited and recognized.
“We will continue to train competent and ethical medical professionals. We call upon all media houses to uphold accuracy, fairness, professionalism and responsibility in reporting,” he said.
He added that the institution remained committed to excellence, integrity and continuous improvement.
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