New university funding model to be ready by September - Education CS Ogamba

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has assured students set to join institutions of higher learning in September this year that a new funding model will be in place by then.

According to CS Ogamba, the taskforce that was appointed to review the new funding model that came into effect in 2023 is in the final stages of completing its report.

The CS who spoke during his tour in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu, on Thursday, said the report of the taskforce will include recommendations that will be tailored to address challenges inhibiting equity in higher education funding.

"The Presidential taskforce had done a fantastic job in reviewing and taking into account all those issues Kenyans raised…what is going to come out is a model that is fit for purpose," said CS Ogamba.

"The report is being completed; they are finalising it, and once it is done, we will discuss the recommendations therein and how they have dealt with the teething problems in the previous model. Come September, when the new cohort is joining, they will be utilising the model that is fit for purpose without the challenges that the previous one has."

Additionally, he said, the report will also address the concerns raised in a petition that led to the annulment of the new funding model by the High Court in Nairobi.

CS Ogamba, at the same time, assured learners that the government capitation of Ksh.14 billion would be released next week to address funding in public institutions.

He reassured parents that students would not be sent home for fees since the ministry had already engaged school heads to allow learners to continue with their studies uninterrupted until the capitation is released.

"We had indicated that the capitation was released, but there is a shortfall of Ksh.14 billion, which the ministry is working closely with the Treasury to ensure it is released…we are hoping the Ksh.14 billion can be released by next week," he said.

"We are working to ensure that in future, the capitation is released on time so that the teachers and pupils do not experience the challenges they are going through. We have liaised with our headteachers not to send the students home because it is not the parents who pay the school fees, it is paid through government capitation."