University students demand CS rescinds defunding proposal

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu. [Samson Wire, Standard]

''Majority of our universities are limping financially following government underfunding. Many of them don't even qualify to be universities,'' Odhiambo said.

Odhiambo further said part of CS's statement will be a big blow to the "hustler" students studying in the public universities and colleges.

''The implication is that the universities will have a free will to charge tuition fees at market rate which will affect the students,'' he added.

Mark Nyakwach, student leader from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKIA), said majority of students cannot afford the Sh16, 000 tuition fees.

''We cannot even afford a meal since the little we have is taken to the payment of tuition. Most of our students have to do manual jobs to survive in the university,'' said Nyakwach.

Earlier, University Academic Staff Union threatened to petition the President to recall Machogu over what they termed 'inability to perform'.

Led by National Secretary General Constantine Wasonga, the University Academic Staff Union say, they expected Machogu to fix the ills in the education sector but he is acting in the contrary.

''He promised to deal with cartels in the education sector which he has succumbed to and now influence his decision making,'' Wasonga said.

He said the CS should have consulted before making his statement, noting that unless the financial situation in higher learning institutions is addressed, there is imminent collapse of higher education.