Ruto dismisses varsity privatisation, fees hike
President William Ruto has assuaged Kenyans’ fears about his administration’s plan to implement radical measures to improve the financial position of public universities, dismissing earlier reports pointing to privatization and massive increase of fees.
In remarks delivered for him by the Education Cabinet Secretary on the fifth anniversary of Kabianga University, Dr Ruto said universities are strategic assets that the state would never relinquish, requesting time for the education taskforce to refine its recommendations.
“We are aware of the challenges the university sub-sector is undergoing in finance and capitation. As such, we will await the final recommendations from the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms on this matter.
“There is no time that the government has ever contemplated privatizing public universities as we are aware of the important role education plays in socio-economic and political development of a country,” Dr Ruto said.
President Ruto’s take on the issue counters Trade CS Moses Kuria, who recently claimed that privatization was inevitable for debt-ridden public universities.
Also, towards the end of February, the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms recommended that fees for government-sponsored be tripled as part of initiatives to raise funds for institutions of higher learning.
