Masinde Muliro University Addresses Alleged Suspension of Academic Activities

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) has dismissed a memo circulating on social media claiming that the university had suspended academic activities ahead of a planned lecturers’ industrial action.

The fake memo claimed that the university had temporarily suspended academic activities following the planned lecturers’ strike scheduled to begin on Friday, October 2.

According to the circulating memo, all students had been directed to vacate the university campus by October 2, secure their personal belongings and return home.

The memo further claimed that students had been advised to await further communication through official university channels regarding the resumption of academic activities.

However, MMUST dismissed the communication as fake, urging students and other members of the university community to disregard it.

"Fake. Disregard," the university directed.

This comes a day after Kenyatta University addressed a viral memo circulating online that purportedly urged student couples to move in together as a way of easing accommodation shortages at the institution. 

The memo claimed that the growing number of students had increased pressure on available accommodation, particularly in areas around the university such as Kahawa, Ruiru and Githurai.

However, in an update on Monday, September 28, Kenyatta University dismissed the letter, warning students and members of the public not to treat it as an official communication from the institution.

"Kenyatta University strictly prohibits the creation or dissemination of false, misleading, fabricated, or unauthorised information. The memo currently circulating is AI-generated and is NOT an official Kenyatta University communication," the institution said.

The university clarified that the document had not gone through its official communication and approval processes and should therefore not be interpreted as reflecting its position on student accommodation or relationships.

"It has not been issued or authorised by the University and does not represent the University's rules, regulations, policies, procedures, or official position on the sharing of information," Kenyatta University added.

The institution further urged students and the public to exercise caution when encountering communications attributed to the university circulating on unofficial platforms.

"Members of the University community and the public are therefore urged not to rely on, reproduce, or circulate the contents of the memo as official University information.

"For accurate and authorised information, always verify communications through Kenyatta University's official communication channels," the university further said.