In a tense and fiery exchange, President William Ruto faced a barrage of questions from university student leaders over the government's newly implemented university funding model, which has sparked widespread debate and unrest. The heated session exposed deep concerns among students about the complexity of the model and its potential financial impact on families.
Gichangi Gitonga, Secretary-General of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), set the stage for the discussion with a blunt disclosure of the pressure he faced from fellow students. "The entire time I was sitting on this seat, it was getting hotter and hotter," he remarked, emphasizing the discontent surrounding the funding changes.
Gitonga accused the administration of using student leaders as "rubber stamps" for the policy, raising questions about the model's transparency. He challenged Ruto on discrepancies in financial figures related to higher education debt. "We were told of a debt of Ksh70 billion at HELB, then Ksh51 billion for private universities, and today you mention Ksh180 billion. As a financial engineer, I find it hard to reconcile these figures," Gitonga stated.
Concerns Over Financial Burden
Kennedy Otieno, Secretary-General of Kenya Methodist University, echoed the frustrations, criticizing the funding model for failing to reduce the financial burden on families. "The fee has not fallen, that is why we are here," Otieno argued, questioning why the government chose to overhaul the previous system instead of improving it.
The students called for the elimination of problematic financial bands and a consolidation of funds to effectively reduce tuition costs for university students.
Ruto's Response: Continuity and Reform
In response, President Ruto offered a historical perspective on the funding model, asserting that banding was not a new concept but an extension of a policy introduced in 1996. "The new model has 5 bands, and all we did was expand from 4 bands to 5," Ruto explained, defending the continuity of the policy evolution.
Drawing from his personal experiences, Ruto described the long-standing nature of the student loan system. "I went to university in 1987 with a loan of 55,000 at an interest of 2%, which I repaid when I started working," he said, emphasizing that student loans are what make the current funding model sustainable.
Ruto also linked education to national integrity, warning of the dangers of lowering education quality or enabling exam cheating. "To destroy a nation, you don't need an atomic bomb or long-range missiles. Lowering the quality of education and allowing exam cheating can destroy a nation," he cautioned.
The president noted that while the funding model isn't perfect, it is largely moving in the right direction. "We are not saying the model is perfect, but I believe it is 95% in the right direction, and we will continue to improve on it," Ruto reassured the audience.
Uncertainty Ahead
As students prepare to join institutions of higher education under the new model, the uncertainties surrounding the funding scheme continue to raise questions. Parents and students alike are left grappling with the implications of a system that many feel has been implemented too hastily without sufficient consultation.
The coming months will reveal whether the adjustments promised by the president will address the concerns raised by student leaders or whether tensions over the funding model will persist.
