University of Nairobi students protest against new funding model

By Peter Ochieng

University of Nairobi (UoN) students on Monday took to the streets of Nairobi, against the new funding model being implemented by the Kenya Kwanza administration.

The students are of the view that the new funding model has resulted in increased cost of university education. If the model is left to stand, they say, many deserving comrades will be locked out from ever accessing university education.

UoN students’ association leader Rocha Madzayo had on Sunday called on all university students across the country to reject the new funding model.

“With this new funding model, it is cheaper to go to private institutions than to go to public institutions. We will continue to be on the streets if the government won’t listen to our cries,” he stated.

During a recent town hall session at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), President William Ruto fiercely defended the model, in the wake of a barrage of questions from Kenyan youth.

“I am persuaded now that we need a funding model that is not focused on the university but focused on the student. A funding model that will not leave any child in Kenya behind but a funding model that recognizes that there are children that come from vulnerable families,” Ruto noted.

The new higher education funding model, unveiled by Ruto on May 3, 2023 sought to address challenges encountered by public universities and Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) institutions due to massive enrollment and inadequate funding.

It replaces the Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) previously used to finance universities. The model prioritises a student’s financial need and separates placement from funding.

Under this model, universities and TVET institutions will no longer receive block funding in the form of capitation. Instead, funding for students will be provided through scholarships, loans, and household contributions.

A section of education stakeholders have however criticised the funding model for locking out the dreams of needy students, with students being placed in bands 1 to 5, ranging from the most to the less needy.

Nearly 12,000 aggrieved students have registered appeals through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal contesting the new model.

Meanwhile, lecturers in public universities on Monday boycotted work to push for the implementation of 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The strike which kicked off at Technical University of Kenya, comes after the Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU) issued a seven-day ultimatum from August 26th, 2024 to have their demands met.

Among issues raised include salary increment as per the 2017-2021 CBA, delay in payment of Salaries and Non-Remittance of Statutory and Third-Party deductions including Bank Loans, Sacco Loans and subscriptions, insurance premiums, NSSF, NHIF among others.

The lecturers say they will not resume duty until their grievances are satisfactorily addressed.