Kenya shuts down Barack Obama University over fraud

Kenya has shut down a university bearing the name of the President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Barack Obama University, an institution in Ndenderu, Kiambu county of Kenya was shut down by the country's Commission of University Education on Wednesday.

According to the commission chairman, Henry Thairu, the institution, which is still under construction, is being built in a residential area and does not meet the requirements needed to be a university.

"The institution is aimed at duping unsuspecting students to enroll," Thairu said.

"The university had erected many advertisement bill boards in the nearby Ruaka town, which is illegal as it is not in the process of being registered and we would not approve of its registering due to its location."

A resident of the area, Peter Mwai, told the Star that the building where the university was setting base was once a kindergarten before it was turned into an academy and now a university.

Authorities say they will prosecute the owner for operating an institution of higher learning illegally.