Kenyans seeking admission to universities and colleges have encountered challenges while applying for placement.
The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) website has been experiencing delays that have rendered most candidates unable to choose their preferred universities and colleges.
A majority of them took to social media to express their frustrations over the server issue.
Kelvin Thitai is among those who lamented.
“Time check 0306Hrs February 27, the server has been unavailable for the last one hour and the eternity before. Fix your system and cease postponing the problem! You know why everyone else has not applied!”
Mickyende on his part said that it has been a week since she tried accessing the server in vain.
“It’s been an hour and the server is still unavailable. How are we going to submit our applications? I have been frustrated for over a week now”
Another user on the X handle complained that the payment is not reflecting on their website hence stalling the application process.
“This is the error that keeps showing up despite my WIFI being extremely strong compared with the task at hand.”
A section of students said they encountered difficulties in accessing support and assistance throughout the application process.
A student Njeri Mutheu said that she feels overwhelmed by pressure to secure a spot in her desired institution.
“I feel like choosing high learning institutions but I fear being rejected or not meeting the cut-off points for the program hence stressing me to delay my applications.”
Following the complaints, the KUCCPS placement extended the application deadline.
In a statement on Sunday, the Service's CEO Mercy Wahome said the decision was made to ascertain that all targeted students have applied.
"Arising from the ongoing process, I wish to assure those who have not yet submitted their applications, and Kenyans in general, that the application deadline, which was set for February 26, 2024, has been extended until KUCCPS ascertains that all targeted students have applied," the statement reads in part.
She pointed out that the process of payment validation for the placement service is longer than it used to be, owing to the migration of government services to the eCitizen platform.
“No one will be disadvantaged on the basis of the day or time they made their applications," she assured.
Wahome stated that the placement service is working closely with relevant stakeholders in the government to ensure that all applicants are enabled to submit their choices.