The future of Kenyan university students is bleak after Education CS Julius Ogamba revealed that 23 public universities are bankrupt due to lack of funding.
Public University Financial Crisis
During a session with the National Assembly Committee on Education on March 19, 2025, Ogamba said the financial situation in Kenyan public universities has worsened over the years, especially for government sponsored students.
Public universities are struggling to meet their financial obligations:
- Pending Bills: Universities owe billions in unpaid debts.
- Delayed Salaries: Staff salaries are being postponed, leading to strikes.
- Operational Costs: Institutions don’t have funds for daily operations.
- Leadership Wrangles: Mismanagement and administrative conflicts are disrupting university governance.
Universities in Debt
The committee inquired about University of Nairobi (UoN) and Technical University of Kenya (TUK) for their huge debts:
- UoN: Pending bills of Ksh13.58 billion including Ksh4 billion historical arrears.
- TUK: Debt of Ksh12.99 billion
Students and Staff suffering
As a result of these financial challenges, students are facing strikes, delayed programs and uncertain graduation timelines. Staff members are facing delayed salaries and job losses.
- TUK has announced plans to fire 559 employees due to financial strain.
- Moi University has already laid off over 300 staff to manage its cash crisis.
Government Response
To address the crisis, the Ministry of Education has developed a 2025-2026 Transformation Strategy to:
- Streamline university leadership
- Improve financial sustainability
- Mobilise resources
But success of these initiatives is uncertain given the deep rooted financial mismanagement in public universities.