The Truth About The University Funding Model: Ruto’s Plan To Segregate The Rich From The Poor Using Education

The recent unveiling of the Kenyan government’s new university funding model marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s educational landscape, one that threatens to exacerbate existing socio-economic disparities. This policy, rather than being a beacon of hope for the millions of young Kenyans striving for higher education, appears to be a calculated mechanism to segregate the rich and the poor, effectively making higher education a preserve of the wealthy.

I have had the chance to research and talk to education experts and financial analysts on the funding model and I would like to elucidate the grave implications of this funding model, arguing that it is both unconstitutional and socially unjust. Moreover, I would like to call for a united front among university students to demand the immediate reversal of this policy, the removal of their failed leadership, and ultimately, the ousting of a government that is complicit in killing the dreams of its youth.

A Policy of Segregation 

The crux of the new funding model lies in its stratification of students into bands based on their financial needs, with government scholarships decreasing as household contributions increase. For instance, in Band 1, students receive a 70% scholarship, leaving them to cover 5% of their educational costs. While this may seem reasonable on the surface, the reality is that even this modest 5%—amounting to KES 30,600 for a medical student—is an insurmountable hurdle for many families already struggling with the high cost of living. As one moves to Band 5, the situation becomes even more dire, with students and their families expected to shoulder up to 40% of the total costs. This sliding scale effectively bars students from lower-income families from accessing higher education, relegating them to a future of limited opportunities.

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Constitutional Violations 

The Kenyan Constitution guarantees the right to education for all citizens. Article 43(1)(f) states that every person has the right to education, while Article 55 obligates the state to take measures to ensure that the youth have access to relevant education and training. By implementing a funding model that disproportionately burdens the poor, the government is in direct violation of these constitutional provisions. It is engaging in an act of systemic segregation that will have long-lasting repercussions on the socioeconomic fabric of the nation. Education should be the great equalizer, not a tool for entrenching inequality.

The Moral Failure of Leadership 

In the face of this grave injustice, the silence of the university students’ leadership is both deafening and damning. These leaders, entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding the interests of their peers, have failed spectacularly. Rather than galvanizing students to challenge this oppressive policy, they have remained passive, perhaps complicit in their inaction. This failure to act is a betrayal of the very students they are meant to represent. These leaders must be held accountable and removed from their positions to pave the way for a new cadre of student activists who are willing to fight for the rights of all students, not just those who can afford to pay their way.

A Call to Action

The time has come for university students across Kenya to rise and demand justice. This is not merely a fight for affordable education; it is a fight for the soul of the nation. If this policy is allowed to stand, it will create a generation of disenfranchised youth, unable to access the education they need to improve their lives and contribute to the nation’s development. Students must unite, organize, and take to the streets in peaceful protest. They must make it clear to the government that they will not stand idly by while their futures are being stolen from them.

Learning from Global Success

Looking beyond our borders, we find examples of countries that have successfully implemented equitable education systems. In Finland, for example, education is free at all levels, including university. The Finnish government recognizes that education is not merely a service to be sold, but a fundamental right that should be accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic background. This model has yielded impressive results, with Finland consistently ranking among the top countries in global education assessments. The Kenyan government must take a leaf from Finland’s book and recognize that investing in education is investing in the future.

The Cost of Corruption

Kenya is a nation rich in resources, both natural and human, yet it remains shackled by the chains of corruption. Every year, billions of shillings are siphoned off from public coffers by corrupt officials. This money, if properly managed, could easily fund free education from baby class to university. The notion that Kenya cannot afford to provide free education is a fallacy; it is not a question of resources but of priorities. If the government were serious about uplifting the nation, it would tackle corruption head-on and redirect these stolen funds into the education sector.

Budgeting for the Future

A reallocation of funds is not only possible but necessary. The government must prioritize education in its budget, cutting back on non-essential expenditures and redirecting those funds to ensure that all Kenyan children have access to free, quality education. This is not an impossible task; it simply requires the political will to act in the best interests of the nation. The current administration, however, seems more interested in maintaining the status quo than in making the bold decisions needed to secure Kenya’s future.

Ruto’s Misguided Leadership

President William Ruto, who campaigned on a platform of empowering the youth, has shown through this policy that his promises were nothing more than empty rhetoric. Rather than championing the cause of education, he has implemented a policy that will kill the dreams of countless young Kenyans. This is not just a policy failure; it is a moral failing of the highest order. Ruto has demonstrated that he is not a leader for the people, but a politician who is willing to sacrifice the future of the nation’s youth for the sake of political expediency.

The Consequences of Inaction 

If this funding model is allowed to continue, the consequences will be dire. Kenya will see an increase in the number of young people unable to access higher education, leading to a rise in unemployment, poverty, and social unrest. The dream of a prosperous, equitable Kenya will be nothing more than a distant mirage. The government’s failure to provide for its youth is not just a policy failure; it is an abdication of its most basic responsibilities.

The Path Forward 

The solution to this crisis is clear: the government must immediately repeal the new funding model and replace it with a system that guarantees access to higher education for all, regardless of socio-economic background. This will require significant investment in the education sector, but it is an investment that will pay dividends for generations to come. The government must also address the root causes of its budgetary shortfalls, namely corruption, and ensure that public funds are used for the public good.

Student Unity as a Catalyst for Change 

For this change to occur, students must play a central role. They must reject the failed leadership that has allowed this policy to take root and elect new leaders who are committed to fighting for their rights. They must also build alliances with other stakeholders, including parents, educators, and civil society organizations, to form a united front against this injustice. It is only through collective action that they will be able to effect meaningful change.

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The Power of Protest 

Peaceful protest has a long and successful history as a tool for social change. From the civil rights movement in the United States to the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, history shows that when people unite and stand up against injustice, they can achieve the impossible. Kenyan students must draw on this legacy of resistance and use their voices to demand the education they deserve.

Kenya stands at a crossroads. The government’s new university funding model is not just a policy misstep—it is a deliberate attempt to widen the gap between the rich and the poor, disenfranchise the youth, and perpetuate a cycle of inequality that will haunt the nation for generations. This model is a direct affront to the constitutional rights of Kenyan citizens and a betrayal of the promises made by those in power. It is a clear indication that the current administration, led by President William Ruto, is not committed to the welfare of the nation’s youth but is instead driven by an agenda that undermines their future.

The stakes could not be higher. If this policy is allowed to stand, it will set a dangerous precedent, one that could see education increasingly privatized and accessible only to those who can afford it. This would be a tragedy not only for the individual students affected but for the country as a whole, which would suffer from the loss of potential, innovation, and progress that comes from a well-educated populace.

The solution lies in the hands of the students and the broader public. University students across the country must rise, not with violence, but with the power of their collective voice. They must demand that this government, which has shown itself to be out of touch with the needs of its people, either changes course or faces removal from office. They must also call for the immediate resignation of the current student leadership, whose failure to act is an unacceptable dereliction of duty.

Moreover, this moment must catalyze a broader discussion about the role of education in Kenyan society and the steps that must be taken to ensure that it is accessible to all. This includes a serious commitment to tackling corruption, reallocating resources, and learning from global best practices in education.

Kenya has the potential to offer free, quality education from the earliest years through to university, but this requires visionary leadership and a commitment to justice. The youth of Kenya are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are the citizens of today, and they must not be denied the opportunities they need to succeed. It is time to take a stand, demand accountability, and ensure that the dreams of Kenya’s children are not sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.

The future of the nation depends on it.

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