The lawmakers have vowed to ensure a sustainable funding
framework that guarantees adequate resources for public universities while
ensuring needy students are not locked out of higher education due to financial
difficulties.
Members of the National Assembly’s Committee on Education said
there is need for urgent interventions to address funding challenges facing the
higher education sector.
Lawmakers in the Committee chaired Tinderet MP Julius Melly proposed
a joint engagement involving the National Treasury, the Ministry of Education
and Parliament to streamline the implementation of the Higher Education Funding
Model.
During a session chaired by vice chairperson Eve Obara
(Kabondo Kasipul) on Thursday, the MPs engaged State Department for Higher
Education, the Higher Education Loans Board and the Universities Fund where
the matter was raised.
“We must have all the stakeholders on board, so that we
address this funding gap once and for
all,” Obara said.
Principal Secretary for Higher Education Beatrice
Inyangala informed members that while the Higher Education Funding Model is
operational, its implementation continues to face challenges, particularly in
aligning budget allocations with the model.
“The funding model is functional. However, the main
challenge lies in budget alignment,” the Principal Secretary said.
MPs noted that the disconnect between the funding model and
budgetary allocations has affected effective financing of universities.
They resolved to convene a meeting bringing together the
National Treasury, the Ministry of Education and the Committee to harmonize the
funding framework and ensure the model delivers its intended objectives.
The committee also sought clarification on the rising
pending bills owed by public universities which PS Inyangala explained is
largely historical, with institutions making efforts to clear the obligations
despite the accumulation of interest over the years.
According to the State Department, public universities had
accumulated pending bills amounting to Sh.100.3 billion as at January 2026,
with measures such as prioritising settlement of pending Bills, halting stalled
projects and exploring alternative revenue streams being implemented to prevent
further accumulation.
During a separate session with the Higher Education Loans
Board, members questioned the board’s loan allocation criteria,
particularly in periods of constrained funding.
CEO Geoffrey Monari was challenged to explain how the board determines which students receive loans when the available resources are
insufficient to support all eligible applicants.
Teso South MP Mary Emaase emphasised the need for fairness,
transparency and predictability in the allocation process to ensure deserving
students are not disadvantaged.
“How do you ensure that all the students are treated fairly as
you award the loans. What criteria do you use to determine who gets and who doesn’t?”
Emaase said.
The committee also met with officials from the Universities
Fund, led by acting CEO Edwin Wanyonyi, to assess the fund’s implementation of the FY 2025-2026 budget and its role in financing
public universities.
