Mount Kenya University (MKU) has issued a statement after a student accused the institution of unfairly locking her out of unit registration despite paying her full fees.
The student, who identified herself as Molly, claimed the university’s strict rules and registration deadlines have repeatedly disrupted her academic progress.
The 37-year-old joined MKU in 2022 with high hopes of graduating and securing a stable job. However, she says the university’s fee and registration policies have posed significant challenges.
“Despite selling everything and paying my full fees, MKU still refused to let me register for units—simply because I was a few hours late,” she claimed.
MKU Responds After Student Is Locked Out Despite Paying Full Fees
In response to the concerns raised, MKU stated that its policies are designed to be as student-friendly as possible. The university said it allows free unit registration for the first month to give students facing financial difficulties time to secure their fees.
“After the deadline, registration closes to support the class attendance requirement—both online and physical—and to ensure smooth preparation for exams,” MKU said in a statement.
The university emphasized that its commitment remains to serve students to the best of its ability, urging students to adhere to registration timelines to avoid missing classes or examinations.
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According to the student, one semester after completing her first Continuous Assessment Test (CAT), MKU announced that students could not register for units without paying at least 60% of their fees. Molly was unable to raise the required amount before the registration deadline passed.
“I didn’t have that much money, and before I could raise it, the registration deadline passed,” she added.
In the following semester, the university informed her that she could not continue unless she paid the entire fee balance from the previous semester.
“Even though the portal had been closed after I had done my first CAT, I struggled, borrowed, and paid in full, thinking my troubles were over,” she said.
Molly struggled financially, borrowed money, and cleared her fees in full, believing her difficulties were behind her.
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MKU Student Forced to Defer Studies Despite Clearing All Fees
Her last session, however, was the most difficult. Molly said she cleared all her fees on the same day the registration deadline passed. She borrowed a loan to pay every shilling owed and went to MKU to request permission to register for units.
Despite having no outstanding balance, she was denied registration and forced to defer her studies.
“The registration deadline passed before I could get the money. On that very same day, I borrowed from a loan shark, cleared all my fees—not a single shilling left unpaid—and went to the university to ask them to allow me to register for units given that I had paid the entire fee,” she claimed.
“They refused. Even though I had no balance, they still locked me out. I had no choice but to defer my studies.”
Molly stated that she has only managed to complete two sessions.
“I am 37 years old, still stuck in school, and I don’t know when—or if—I will ever graduate,” she said.
“I’m not asking for free education. I just want fairness. How can a university punish a student who has already paid in full?”
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