Kilome MP: Govt Is Unable To Fully Fund Higher Education
Kilome MP Thaddeus Nzambia has claimed that the government is unable to fully fund higher learning institutions, citing prolonged delays in the disbursement of capitation.
The funds, which cover more than 70 percent of students’ needs, have been significantly delayed, sparking concerns among university and technical college administrators.
Nzambia made these remarks during a Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education meeting chaired by MP Jack Wanami Wamboka.
The session, attended by university vice chancellors and principals, highlighted the financial struggles facing institutions such as the University of Nairobi (UoN) and the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), which are grappling with billions in pending bills.
“Let the public know that the government is unable to fully fund education in our institutions of higher learning. It is a dire situation,” Nzambia stated.
University leaders raised concerns that the delayed disbursement of funds has severely impacted the availability of learning materials, the payment of non-teaching staff, and the provision of meals and co-curricular activities.
Capitation also covers development projects such as the construction and renovation of school infrastructure, but financial constraints have forced many institutions into debt.
“Debts keep accumulating year after year because we are not receiving timely and sufficient resources,” said Loice Kutoh, Principal of the Rift Valley Technical Training Institute.
Catherine Kelonye, Chief Principal of Kisumu National Polytechnic, noted that the government is required to fund 80 percent of the total cost for university students and allocate Sh30,000 per student annually for TVETs. However, she lamented that these funds have not been forthcoming for years.
Maseno University Vice Chancellor Prof. Julius Nyakundi added that underfunding has negatively impacted service delivery and stalled planned institutional projects.
“The government owes institutions millions, if not billions. This underfunding has affected most planned activities and significantly hindered service delivery,” Nyakundi said.
With universities and technical colleges struggling to stay afloat, education stakeholders are now urging the government to prioritize timely capitation disbursement to prevent further financial crises in the sector.