Dear Members of the USIU-Africa Community,

We trust that you are keeping well. As we gear up for the elections that will be held next week on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 please see below some of the precautions that we advise you take to ensure that you and your families are safe during the election season:
Semester Break:
The semester break will commence from Saturday, August 6, 2022 to Monday, September 5, 2022. Students residing in the campus hostels are requested to vacate by Saturday, August 6, 2022 with the exception of the 80 Mastercard Foundation Scholars.

Election Day:
Tuesday, August 9, 2022 has been declared a public holiday to give Kenyans the opportunity to participate in the 2022 general elections. The university will therefore remain closed on this day with normal business resuming on Wednesday, August 10, 2022.

University Operations:
Staff and faculty will follow their normal routine throughout the electoral period. Should you need to travel to vote, you are encouraged to plan with your Division/Department Head to apply for leave as appropriate.

The situation will be monitored closely during this period and frequent reviews provided when necessary. Any important information shall be communicated to the USIU-Africa community either via text message or through the USIU-Africa social media platforms. In the event of any disruptions the University will ensure that:

• Division/Department Heads implement mechanisms to ensure that they are able to monitor and track the wellbeing of their teams during the period. Should you be affected in any way, employees are encouraged to reach out to their supervisors to make alternative arrangements including working remotely. This should be pre-approved where possible;
• Provision of all essential services will continue with skeleton staff;
• Security will be tightened to secure the campus and guarantee the safety of students, employees and the premises;
• Employees may be provided with planned and scheduled transport to and from work in the event that transport services are disrupted.

University Health Services:
The medical center will remain operational and can be reached through Tel: +254 730 116 759 or extension 760 /761 /762.

The Cafeteria:
The Cafeteria will be operational to ensure that they provide meals for employees and the resident students.

Personal Safety and Security:
You are advised to ensure that:

• You have enough supplies in your homes in the unlikely event of emergencies and other threats that might arise after elections;
• Avoid unnecessary travel especially to areas that are likely to experience incidences of electoral violence, unless you are a resident of these areas;
• You keep abreast of the situation and follow any local and national security guidance that will be given through the period;
• Avoid crowds and any instances of unrest. You are encouraged to stay indoors to avoid being caught up in any ensuing trouble.

Misinformation:
Avoid sharing any unverified information among your family and friends. Before sharing any information, please ensure that you have confirmed its veracity from official sources, including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) website.

For any additional information regarding the elections and the University’s communication about it, please visit our August General Election Updates page or contact the Human Resources Department through the Director of Administration, Night Nzovu on nnzovu@usiu.ac.ke for any additional queries.

The Administration Division will be responsible to review the situation and share frequent updates as they come up.

Regards,

Prof. Freida Brown,
Interim Vice Chancellor, USIU-Africa