In a move that has surprised both parents and university students alike, the national Treasury has backed up a proposal mooted by MPs to hike University fees from Ksh 16,000 to Ksh 48,000.
In a meeting with several MPs, both PS Julius Muia and his counterpart Simon Nabukwesi have warmed up to the MPs proposal which requires the approval of both the Cabinet and Parliament.
If passed the fee hike is likely to come with huge economic consequences to parents with the risk that many students may have to drop of university education. In Kisumu, university students who spoke to Kisumu City News expressed concerns at the move terming it ill-conceived and misplaced.
Mary Anyango, a mother who is struggling to finance her son’s education, told Kisumu City News that any fee increment by the Government will be a big burden to the parents already overloaded with current fees structure.
“I am already struggling to raise Ksh 26,450 to get my son admitted for first year at Maseno University. Where does the Government expect me to get Ksh.79,350 in the middle of a pandemic? Mary told Kisumu City News.
“I was glad when I received my son’s admission letter, and I promised to do everything possible to pay his first semester’s fee and help him apply for HELB. I do not know what I will do if this bill is passed”, she said angrily.
According to Treasury PS Muia, the universities are in a deep financial crisis and that under the circumstances, university fees needs to be reviewed. However, PS Muia was opposed by Professor Geoffrey Muluvu, the Chair of the Public University’s Vice-Chancellor Committee.
The Professor told the National Assembly Committee chaired by Busia Women’s Representative Florence Mutua that there can never be the “right time” to review university fee structure.
According to Professor Muluvu, the average estimate cost to cover a student’s study at University was placed at Ksh 86,000 for tuition and Ksh 34,000 for upkeep including stationary. Since 1989, the Professor said that this fee structure has never been reviewed and that there is no justification for reviewing it now.
The Vic Chancellors advised that the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) should be adequately funded to provide sufficient support to needy students to cushion them from the adverse effects of any increment in university fees.
According to Mrs Pamela Williams, a third-year student at Maseno University pursuing a Bachelors degree in Political Science, “parallel students are facing a hard time in finishing their degrees” because of the deep economic crisis facing both students and parents.
“I pay Ksh 65,000 for the first semester and Ksh 55,000 for the second semester, summing up to Ksh.120, 000 per academic year”. Her view is that this is a colossal amount of money to pay for university education.
“The Government gives me Ksh 50,000, and I struggle to raise Ksh 70, 000. To complete a year, it will be a nightmare raising Ksh 210,000 for my fourth year before I graduate.” Pamela told Kisumu City News.
“I was supposed to graduate in 2018, but due to financial constraints, I had to differ my studies for three years, from 2014-2016, then 2018. How much more will this bill cost me if it is passed?” she posed.
Mr John Okello is a resident of Wathorego, Kisumu Sub-county. Okelo has been hosting Great Lakes University students in his hostels for a long time. Speaking to Kisumu City News, Okelo agreed that the proposed fee hike will affect students adversely. He pointed out that currently, many students can hardly pay rent, and wondered how the situation will look like if the proposed bill is passed.
“I have seen students struggling even to raise cash for food. I allow a number of them to pay their rents in three installments because they can’t afford to pay Ksh 12,000, which is what I charge for a whole 4 months semester. How will such students afford a tripled fee plan if they can’t afford to buy food for Ksh 50?”, he wondered.
“With the university policy of “no fees no exam”, our children will be traumatized if this bill is passed. The Government needs to find a way to work out this proposal without interfering with the normal university fee structure, or else business will not be as usual even for us the landlords.” he warned.
Okelo advised that instead of proposing a fee hike, it is the student’s allowance which needs to be reviewed upwards and possibly raised to Ksh 68,000 to enable students cope with hard economic times.
The proposed fee hike has triggered a demo in Nairobi by University students who gave the Government 7 days to reverse the proposal or face the consequences.
Favoured Williams
