Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has apologised for being agitated in Parliament, during the Speaker's Kamkunji on the new University Funding Model.
A Kamkunji is an unofficial meeting of MPs to discuss issues that are of national importance. It is traditionally convened and chaired by the Speaker.
During the session on Tuesday, Wamuchomba stated that she was agitated as it seemed that the MPs were wasting their time.
She lamented that they had been at the House since morning trying to get clarity from people who are expected to disseminate information.
A clearly upset Wamuchomba wondered how the students got information from the State Department of Higher Education and Research.
"We are wasting our time Mr Speaker, I think it is high time we acknowledge that this system is quite a mess. We must go back to the drawing board. We are wasting the lives and the future of our children," she said.
She called for the firing of those tasked with information dissemination in the State Department, saying they are "doing a lot of nothing to our country".
The vocal MP later apologised through a statement on her X account, saying she was worried about the students who will be joining universities.
"Am sorry I was agitated in parliament yesterday but I cry for the university freshers," she said.
"After spending the whole Morning 9.30am to 2.30pm in Bunge's Kamukunji, I am yet to be convinced that the Student-centred funding Model will work for needy university students. We must be genuine for Kenya to work ."
The meeting was attended by Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala, University Fund CEO Geoffrey Monari and chairman of the Vice Chancellor’s Committee of Public Universities Prof Daniel Mugendi.
During the Kamkunji, legislators pointed out the challenges of communication between the ministry, universities, and the public leading to confusion and misinformation.
Wetang'ula also noted that even if the new model is good, without effective communication it will amount to nothing.
"Even with this very good model, the efficiency has been communication. It is now that we are hearing that even children who don’t have money should go and report, those with distorted data should go and correct at the universities," he said.
Inyangala defended the Ministry's communication efforts but acknowledged the need for improvement.
She assured the House that the ministry was working closely with vice-chancellors to ensure students were not turned away from universities.