President William Ruto has instructed the Commission for University Education to make arrangements to give Turkana University a charter.
Speaking at the Turkana Tourism and Cultural Festival, Tobong'u Lore, in Lodwar on Friday, Ruto however maintained that there would be no short cuts in awarding the institution a charter.
“You have asked me to give Turkana University a charter. I want to tell you this; I instructed Commission for University Education to plan on how we can give a charter to Turkana University,” he said.
The President was, however, quick to point out that some facilities must be in place at the university before the award of the charter.
“I promised that we will not fail to give Turkana University a charter. We must make sure that all facilities befitting a university must be in place so that when we give them a charter, it will have every meaning that any other university has,” he stated.
Ruto said delays to award the university a charter can partly be blamed on the rejection of the Finance Bill, 2024.
“The problem was that the Finance Bill, 2024, was rejected by the people and you know how it happened. A financing gap emerged as a result,” he explained.
However, the President said he will be proposing the allocation of Sh360 million to Turkana University in a supplementary budget next month.
“I have agreed with area MPs that they should support the proposal. If it passes in Parliament, I will put in place all that is needed at the university then a charter will follow,” he said.
University Charter means a written grant by the sovereign or legislative power of a country, by which a university is created and its rights and privileges defined.
On May 2, 2024, Ruto awarded a charter to Tangaza University and Management University of Africa.
The Head of State noted that the government was prepared to support universities offering online and virtual learning.
With the award of charters to the two private universities, Ruto said, Kenya now has 64 chartered universities, solidifying the country's status as a regional hub for higher education.