Public universities in Kenya are facing a financial storm, with Parliament’s Education Committee warning of a looming crisis.
A staggering pending bill burden—now at Sh72.2 billion—is dragging universities down, with Treasury allocations described by Members of Parliament (MPs) as a mere drop in the ocean compared to the scale of the crisis.
The universities with the highest accumulated debts include the University of Nairobi, with Sh13.2 billion in pending bills, the Technical University of Kenya at Sh11.1 billion, Kenyatta University with Sh10.6 billion and Egerton University at Sh10.1 billion.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok pleaded with the MPs to fight for budget to address the issue and save the institutions from collapsing.
“That is why we are here pleading with you to ensure that we get the right budget.”
The committee flagged the allocation of funds to capital projects, noting that projects over 70 percent complete are receiving less money, while new projects are being prioritised.
“We need to know—why can’t we just finish the old projects first so that we can start working on new ones? Because at this rate, we cannot finish projects,” stated Teso South MP Mary Emase.
Lawmakers are also probing why some universities, like the University of Eldoret and the Open University, received more funds than they requested in the budget policy statement.
“What is each and every university having to ensure that they take care of the pending bill?” asked the Education Committee chairperson, Julius Melly.
At the same time, the Higher Education Loans Board is also feeling the pinch, with a budget allocation of Sh41.1 billion for student loans against a requirement of Sh76.3 billion, leaving a deficit of Sh35.1 billion.
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