Ex-Public Service CS Margaret Kobia, currently Chancellor St Paul's University, during a past event.

Former Public Service CS Margaret Kobia has criticised the abrupt closure order issued against the Kenya Institute of Management.

Speaking to the Star, she warned that the move risks disrupting thousands of students and undermining confidence in government oversight of higher education.

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The Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) recently ordered the institution shut, citing a breach of regulations.

The move has thrown into uncertainty the fate of learners across its campuses.

“You cannot just arbitrarily close an institution like Kenya Institute of Management, which was started in 1954 and has played a critical role in awarding certificates, diplomas and professionalising management,” Kobia said.

“It is not right for the Technical Vocational Education and Training Authority to just issue a press statement saying it is closed.”

Kobia argued that even where compliance issues exist, regulators must follow due process and prioritise the welfare of students, including arranging transfers to alternative institutions.

“The government shouldn’t take further action without exhausting due process and relocating students,” she said.

“It makes the government look bad when there is an arbitrary order that says KIM and all its colleges are closed.”

She called for urgent consultations between KIM and the Ministry of Education, led by Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, to find a structured solution that protects learners.

“There should be engagement and assurances for students that they will be accommodated before such a drastic action is taken,” she said.

Drawing from her experience in government, Kobia noted that closures of public institutions typically follow extensive review processes and stakeholder engagement.

“From where I sit as a former Public Service CS, there was no time an institution was closed without due process,” she said.

“Even if KIM was wrong, the government has to consider the plight of students.”

She pointed to precedent in the university sector, where the Commission for University Education ensures students are placed in alternative institutions before closures are effected.

The dispute has since moved to court, offering temporary relief to students and staff.

High Court judge William Musyoka on Wednesday granted a stay order allowing classes to continue pending the determination of the case.

“The matter shall be mentioned on April 29, 2026, for compliance and further directions. In the meantime, there shall be a stay in terms of prayer five of the ex parte chamber summons,” the judge ruled.

The case highlights growing tensions between regulators and private training institutions as the government tightens oversight of the technical and vocational education sector.

In recent years, TVETA has intensified inspections and compliance checks amid concerns over the quality of training, accreditation standards and the proliferation of unregistered colleges.

Authorities have argued that stricter enforcement is necessary to protect students from substandard education and to align the sector with national skills development goals.

However, critics say enforcement has at times been heavy-handed, with abrupt actions that fail to account for the immediate consequences on learners.

Education stakeholders warn that sudden closures can lead to loss of academic time, financial strain for students and parents, and potential legal disputes that drag on for months.

KIM, one of the country’s oldest professional training institutions, has historically played a central role in shaping management practice in the country, offering professional certifications alongside academic programmes.