Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has urged universities to create more income streams so as to beat financial obstacles.
Matiang’i spoke at Mount Kenya University in Thika on Thursday while officially opening the Mwai Kibaki Convention Centre.
His sentiments came as some universities in the country including Moi and Kenyatta face deep financial difficulties.
The challenges have forced them to take desperate measures including hiking fees and seeking government’s help to bail them out.
“Universities must end the trend of relying on the government for funding. They must be ready to make investments like the one MKU has done so as to avoid sinking in debts.
"It is the only way our institutions of higher learning will be able to sail through harsh economic times,” Matiang’i said.
Kenyatta University is currently facing a financial crisis following closure of all of its bank accounts by the Kenya Revenue Authority over failure to remit employees deductions amounting to more than Sh2 million.
Moi University administration has claimed that it cannot meet its financial obligations saying that the varsity is broke. Students were sent home after workers went on a go-slow due to delayed salaries.
Matiang’i, however, averred that the government will support universities by giving them a favourable environment that will see more students enrol into both public and private universities.
He said the government will continue issuing loans to students in both public and private institutions.
The CS lauded MKU for the milestones it has achieved since it was established, saying during its 10-year stint, it has been feted locally and globally.
The university has over 40,000 government and self-sponsored students in its campuses.
He hailed the university for joining the ranks of the global communities who have put up convention centers as facilities to nurture common feelings of unity, sharing and togetherness as a public good.
The CS said plans to establish a police post in the university's neighbourhood are in the offing to curb insecurity.
MKU founder and chairman Simon Gicharu said the 2,000-capacity convention center was put up in honour of the former president “for his cross-cutting policies that have radically transformed our education sector.
“Mwai Kibaki also conceived and brought to fruition Thika road which plays a major role to the university in terms of access. His administration also paved way for opening up more private universities,” he said.
The chairman said the core purpose of the convention centre is to support educational activities as well as host local, regional and international conferences, conventions and summits.
The facility has hosted the Talloires Network Leaders Conference 2021, the International Conference on Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa, and is currently hosting the YUNUS Social Business Academia Conference.
"We also look forward to host drama & music festivals and even presidential debates in the near future,” he said.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
