Kenya’s public universities are now trapped in a deep financial crisis. Parliament’s Education Committee has raised concerns over the seriousness of the situation, warning that the system is heading for disaster if nothing is done.
At the centre of the problem is a huge pile of unpaid bills, currently standing at Ksh.72.2 billion. This debt is weighing down the universities, making it hard for them to operate smoothly. Even though the Treasury continues to give them money, Members of Parliament have said the amount being given is too little to make any real difference.
Egerton University’s main campus. Unpaid salaries for public servants in the financial year ending in June 2024 totalled Sh2.49 billion, with Egerton University workers being the most affected. (Photo: Egerton University)
Some of the biggest universities are carrying the heaviest burden. The University of Nairobi is leading with a debt of Ksh.13.2 billion. The Technical University of Kenya follows closely with Ksh.11.1 billion, then Kenyatta University with Ksh.10.6 billion, and Egerton University with Ksh.10.1 billion.
This kind of debt has made it difficult for these institutions to pay staff, run programs properly, or invest in infrastructure. Education Committee Chairperson Julius Melly asked what every university is doing to reduce these debts, stressing the need for real efforts to solve the issue.
Principal Secretary for Basic Education Julius Bitok appeared before the committee and said the Ministry is pleading with Parliament to give the right amount of funding in the next budget. He explained that the current support from the Treasury is not enough to handle the growing financial needs.
The committee also questioned how funds are being allocated to university projects. MPs noted that projects which are already over 70% complete are getting less funding than new ones, which they said makes no sense.
Teso South MP Mary Emase said the government should focus on completing old projects before starting new ones, as the current trend will only lead to more abandoned buildings and wasted resources.
On top of all this, some universities are receiving more money than they even asked for. For example, the University of Eldoret and the Open University were given more than they requested in the budget policy statement.
Kenyatta University main campus. Among the biggest debtors are Kenyatta University, which owes Sh12.38 billion. (Photo: KU)
Lawmakers are now investigating why this happened when other struggling institutions are not getting enough.
The financial trouble also extends to students. The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), which provides loans to university students, is also under pressure. It needs Ksh.76.3 billion to meet the demand but has only been allocated Ksh.41.1 billion. This leaves a huge gap of Ksh.35.1 billion, meaning thousands of students may be left without support for their education.
