In a growing controversy over Kenya’s new university funding model, Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino has sharply criticized the recent explanation provided by Higher Education Principal Secretary (PS) Beatrice Muganda Inyangala.
The dispute highlights the tensions surrounding the country’s evolving approach to higher education funding.
In a detailed post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), PS Inyangala sought to clarify the new funding model, which President William Ruto unveiled on May 3, 2023.
The model, she explained, categorizes students into different bands based on their families’ monthly income, with the aim of making higher education accessible to all, regardless of economic background.
“The New University Funding Model Bands Explained,” the PS wrote, outlining the following categories:
Band 1: For families with a monthly income up to Ksh5,995.
Band 2: For families with a monthly income up to Ksh23,670.
Band 3: For families with a monthly income up to Ksh70,000.
Band 4: For families with a monthly income up to Ksh120,000.
Band 5: For families with a monthly income above Ksh120,000.
She further detailed how government scholarships and loans would cover significant portions of educational costs, with the highest support going to those in Band 1, where the government scholarship would cover 70%, the loan will cover 25%, making the total support 95%. The family will contribute 5%, and the upkeep loan will be Ksh60,000.
The PS said that in Band 2 the government scholarship will cover 60%, the loan will cover 30%, making the total support 90%. The family will contribute 10%, and the upkeep loan will be Ksh55,000.
For Band 3, the PS said the government scholarship will cover 50%, the loan will cover 30%, making the total support 80%. The family will contribute 20%, and the upkeep loan will be Ksh50,000.
In contrast, families in Band 4 would receive 40% in scholarships and 30% in loans, with the remaining 30% covered by the family.
Students from families with a monthly income of above Ksh120,000 have found themselves in the fifth band.
However, heated reactions to the new model has erupted, as a section of Kenyans have argued that many needy students have found themselves wrongfully placed in fourth and fifth bands.
Babu Owino, a vocal advocate for educational reform and a frequent critic of government policies, was quick to dismiss Inyangala’s explanation, branding it as “rubbish.”
His terse rebuttal underscores the dissatisfaction among some lawmakers and segments of the public who feel that the new model may not adequately address the needs of the most vulnerable students.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the government is set to disburse Ksh25.3 billion in scholarships and loans to the 2024-25 higher education students who have applied so far.
He further announced public universities have started to release new admission letters to 125,893 students who have applied for loans and scholarships under the Student-Centred Model.
Ruto
President Ruto had defended the model, arguing that it was designed primarily to benefit students from extremely poor backgrounds.
According to the President, under the new model, universities and TVETs (Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions) will no longer receive block funding based on a Differentiated Unit Cost.
Instead, funding will be more targeted, with needy students receiving government scholarships of up to 53% and loans of up to 40%.
“Parents will only pay 7% of the total cost of their university education,” Ruto stated in May 2023.
Despite these assurances, the debate over the model continues, with critics like Babu Owino challenging whether it will deliver the promised support to those who need it most.