Students enrolled under Kenyatta University’s Digital School of Virtual and Open Learning (DSVOL) are expressing growing frustration over what they describe as worsening disorganization and neglect within the programme initially promoted as a flexible option for working professionals and those studying from abroad.
Several learners say the reality of being a DSVOL student has become unnecessarily stressful, with many citing sharp increases in fees, missing units on the course catalogue, and last-minute changes to examination procedures that have left them stranded.
One of the biggest complaints centres on the treatment of exam timetable clashes.
While such issues were previously resolved within the main exam period, students now report that the university has suddenly reclassified those papers as special exams — a move introduced without prior communication and one that comes with extra charges and delays.
Some affected learners who travelled from overseas to sit for exams say they only discovered the changes upon arrival, calling the situation both unfair and financially punitive.
Others complain that KU’s tendency to omit certain DSVOL units after fees have been paid has caused year-long delays in completing their studies, raising questions about the university’s capacity to run virtual programmes effectively.
Without a union or organized representation for DSVOL students, many feel they are being taken advantage of, as the scattered nature of the student body makes it difficult to collectively push back.
“Good Morning Nyakundi. There is an issue I’d like the public to help us address and this is about Kenyatta University. Now on the positive, KU is one university that offers REGULAR/DSVOL/CEP Programmes which makes it very easy for students who work full-time to pursue their dreams but boy ooh boy, the drama after I joined is endless. First of all, when I joined as a DSVOL programme, they reviewed the fee to 3X the previous amount.
I think there were deliberations around it and I noticed last semester the fee deducted from my overpayment was less but still above the previous rate. Literally studying at KU is like going to USIU feewise but at least I knew of that when I joined. The worst that keeps getting worse by the day is the EXAMS, and this is the reason I wish to share this, at least someone needs to address it or be addressed. So as a DSVOL (Digital School Virtual Online Learning) student, I shall attend sessions virtually BUT do the exams on campus. Now, I moved to Australia and normally jet in to take the exams.
Currently we are doing END-Sem exams and clashes are normal. Previously had one a clash, they’d be allowed to do them within the exam time-frame and students were always prepared – no one complained – we are busy. One could also write an e-mail to that effect and clashes could be sorted but KU is a large campus so in sorting some, others clashed afresh albeit less. This has happened for years. Without communication, the 2nd day into this Semester’s exam, KU decides that the new clashes on the final timetable shall be taken as special exams. There was no communication prior to when people with clashing units turned up and were told so on the spot. Special exams are also to be done in May, special exams are to be paid for, special exams mean I book a new ticket from Australia and beg my employer for time – in whose job? We are aggrieved.
I still wonder why KU cannot even allow DSVOL students to take exams virtually. Apart from that, KU also purposely fail to offer units on the catalogue for DSVOL after you have paid the fee and some end up delaying even a whole year just waiting for a unit to be offered, in this era and time, exactly why am I learning virtually if I cannot access units I should register for. These issues irk me, but hey, I know they can be sorted if we pitch this seriously.
The reason I wrote to you to share this to the public is DSVOL students cannot unionise because we are so scattered and KU takes this as a playing ground. Asante.”
