William Ruto Appoints National Committee To Review Controversial University Funding Model

• President William Ruto named a 129-member task force to review the new university funding model
• The committee to be chaired by Japhet Micheni Ntiba will, among other things, review the structure of student loans
• University students had threatened to strike over the new funding model, which they termed disadvantageous

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - President William Ruto has taken steps to cool temperatures over the controversy surrounding the new university funding formula.

On Monday, September 16, Ruto appointed a National Committee on Review of the New University Funding Model.

The new funding model has generated a lot of controversies among students, parents, and education stakeholders.

"I, William Samoei Ruto, do order and direct that the National Working Committee on Review of the New University Education Funding Model is hereby established," the gazette notice reads.

Who will chair the taskforce on the new university funding model?

According to the gazette notice, the committee, which will consist of 129 members, will consist of four subcommittees: one to handle the review and refinement of the new funding model for universities and technical, vocational education and training institutions (TVETs) and another to deal with appeals arising from the categorisation of students into various eligibility bands.

The third sub-committee will review the structure of student loans, while the fourth will review the cost of university academic programmes.

The task force, to be chaired by Japhet Micheni Ntiba, has been given eight weeks to complete its assignment before submitting the report to the president.

“The chairpersons and co-chairpersons of the work streams (sub-committees) shall constitute the coordination Board of the Committee for the New University Education Funding Model, as follows: Japheth Micheni Ntiba – chairperson; members: chairpersons and co-Chairpersons of the four workstreams; joint secretaries: lead joint secretaries from the four workstreams.

“The National Committee will serve for a period of eight weeks with effect from the date hereof, or for such longer period as may be specified by notice in the Gazette,” the notice added.

Why students called off protests over funding model

As TUKO.co.ke reported, the university student councils called off scheduled protests against the new higher education funding model.

This comes after the Ministry of Education (MOE) formed a committee to review the effectiveness of the new funding model.

MOE further called on university student leadership to cancel the September 9, 2024 demonstrations to allow for effective student input and minimise disruption to their studies.

In a joint statement, the student council leaders from various universities in Kenya said that MOE's move to form a committee that will engage with the students is in the right direction, hence the need to call off the protests.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke