The Vice Chancellor, Kisii University Ordered to Correct Personal Information in a Diploma Certificate
The Commission has ordered the Vice Chancellor (VC) of Kisii University to verify the correctness of the Applicant’s name particulars appearing on his Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication Certificate and to implement appropriate corrective measures if incorrect, ensuring they match the name on his Academic Transcript.
The VC must comply within twenty-one days of the order (3rd July 2025). Failure to comply will result in the Commission recommending criminal prosecution against the Vice Chancellor under Section 28 of the Access to Information Act, 2016.
The applicant, a former student of Kisii University, applied to the Commission for review under Section 14(1)(h) of the ATI Act. He stated that on 14th February 2025, he sought correction of the name on his Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication Certificate to match that on his Academic Transcript.
The Commission took up the matter with the VC on 18th March 2025, requesting an institutional report regarding the request.
A letter from the Commission to the VC stated:
“The Commission notes Section 13(1) of the ATI Act, 2016, which provides:
‘(1) At the request of the applicant, a public entity or private body shall within reasonable time, at its own expense, correct, update or annotate any personal information held by it relating to the applicant, which is out of date, inaccurate or incomplete.’ Therefore, the Commission requests your Institutional Report under Section 22(3) of the ATI Act within seven (7) days to allow appropriate decision on the application. Kindly note that if no response is received from your Office within the indicated timeline, the Commission may proceed to make a decision, your response notwithstanding.”
The Commission received no response, prompting the issuance of an order on 3rd July 2025 pursuant to Sections 22(3)(a)(i) and Section 23(2)(a) of the Access to Information Act. The orders required the VC to verify the correctness of the Applicant’s name particulars appearing on the Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication Certificate, implement appropriate corrective measures in the event the name particulars appearing on the Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication Certificate are incorrect and furnish the Commission with a status Report.
In addition, the VC is required to comply with the Commission’s order within twenty-one days from the order date. Failure to comply will result in the Commission recommending criminal prosecution under Section 28 of the Access to Information Act, 2016.