The Universities ( Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2023

SPECIAL ISSUE

Kenya Gazette Supplement No.126(National Assembly Bills No.41)

REPUBLICOFKENYA

KENYA GAZETTE SUPPLEMENT

NATIONALASSEMBLYBILLS,2023

NAIROBI,2ndAugust,203

CONTENT

| Bill for Introduction into the National Assembly- | Bill for Introduction into the National Assembly- | |-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | | PAGE | | The Universities(Amendment) (No.2) Bill,2023 | 1273 |

PRINTEDANDPUBLISHEDBYTHEGOVERNMENTPRINTER,NAIROBI

THE UNIVERSITIES(AMENDMENT) No.2) BILL,

2023

A Bill for

• AN ACT of Parliament to amend the Universities Act
• No.42 of 2012;and for connected purposes.

ENACTED by the Parliament of Kenya,as follows-

• 1.This Act may be cited as the Universities Short title. (Amendment) (No.2) Act,2023.
• 2.The Universities Act,is amended in section 20 by inserting the following new paragraph immediately after subsection (l)(e)-
• "(f) shall provide a database that is digital and that allows a person to access and ascertain the authenticity of the academic papers acquired from such university subject to the Data Protection Act."

Amendment of section 20 of No 42of2012.

MEMORANDUM OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

Statement of objects and reasons

The principal object of the Bill is to amend the Universities Act, to provide a database in every college or university that will allow members of the general public to digitally ascertain authenticity of papers acquired

from the institutions.

The object of the Bill is to ensure that Kenyans are saved the inconvenience ofphysicallywalkingtouniversitiestohavetheir certificates verified.The online digital certificates will come in handy during frequent university.strikes,elections and epidemics.U o

Statement on the delegation of legislative powers and limitation of fundamental rights and freedoms

The Bill dbes not containany provisions limiting any fundamental

rights or freedom.oien

Indication of whether the Bill concerns County Governments

The Bill does not affect the functions of county goverhments as set out in the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution and is therefore not a Bill concerning county governments.

Statement as to whether the Bill is a money Bill within the meaning of

Article 114 of the Constitution

The enactment of this Bill may not occasion additional expenditure of public funds.

Dated the 21st June,2023.

VUSHT

ABDULHARO, MemberofParliament.

Section 20 of theprincipal Act in which it is proposed to amend-

20.Effect of a Charter

• (1) A university granted a Charter in accordance with section 19-

2. (a) shall be a body corporate,and as such shall continue the activities of the university as undertaken under the Letter of Interim Authority,including the employment of staff, except where activity is expressly altered under the Charter; 3. (b) shall mobilize academic resources; 4. (c) may develop its new academic programmes for approval by the Commission in accordance with this Act; 5. (d) may establish campuses and colleges which must conform to standards established by regulations made under this Act;and 6. (e) may award - 7. (i) degrees, including postgraduate degree and honorary degrees; 8. (ii) diplomas,including postgraduate diplomas; and 9. (ii) other academic certificates.