University Fees To Rise 3 Times From Ksh 16,000 To Ksh 48,000

Kenya has revived plans to increase fees for students enrolled at public universities from next year. Private institutions are considering similar plans, spelling doom for students who could be paying at least double the current charges next year.

While appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Education on Wednesday, December 2, senior treasury and education officials proposed that university fees be increased from 16,000 shillings to 48,000 shillings

The policy change, however, requires further approval by the National Assembly but with the backing of the committee, the proposal is likely to be adopted by the house.

Vice-chancellors and chairs of university councils have asked parliament to sanction the proposed fees increment which is supposed to guarantee institutions’ sustainability

The decision by the vice-chancellors to seek parliament’s intervention follows years of haggling between them and the ministry of education, which is opposed to the increase. Should parliament sanction the proposal, the ministry will have to implement the decision.

Vice-chancellors have been pushing for the fee hike to help their institutions meet the funding gap that has seen them owe 37 billion shillings in statutory deductions and have struggled to maintain payrolls.

Late last year, Kenya’s Education Secretary, Professor George Magoha, asked universities not to increase tuition fees and, instead, execute austerity measures aimed at freeing up funds for investment in academic projects.

The Ministry of Education was yesterday advised to embark on holistic university reforms that include staff cuts, salary reviews, mergers, and closure of nonviable campuses to guarantee financial sustainability in the institutions

This comes as it emerged that the universities are presently underfunded at a 60 percent rate against the required 80 percent, a move that has over the years plunged the institutions into a crisis.

The development is a major setback on parents’ hopes for subsidized higher education, given that the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) funding had been reduced from 45,000 shillings to  37,000 shillings.

Helb Chief Executive Officer Charles Ringera said the decision to reduce the loan funding was a result of the Covid-19 crisis that had slowed down loan recoveries as most Kenyans lost jobs.

Treasury PS Julius Muia and Higher Education PS Simon Nabukwesi acknowledged that universities are facing a financial crisis and the fees will need to be reviewed.