• Currently, there are 33 public universities and seven constituent colleges that are spread in 30 counties.
• If effected, the proposal could advantage 17 counties yet to benefit from the establishment of a public university.
MPs have rejected a proposal to abolish a requirement to have a public university in every county.
In a report by the National Assembly education committee, the legislators recommended that the Commission for University Education establish public universities in each county considering their viability.
“To enhance accessibility to university education, each county must have a public university as provided for in the Act,” the report reads.
“The commission may establish public universities in each of the counties considering their viability in the distribution of public universities across the country.”
This means, if a proposal to establish a university is reviewed and determined that a university can successfully operate, then the CUE the supreme organ that oversees university operations can recommend for the establishment of the institution.
The bill among other issues seeks to amend a section of the University Act 2012.
It is sponsored by the Majority leader Aden Duale.
The Act currently demands CUE to ensure the establishment of public universities in each county.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING’A
The report proposal deals a blow to the Education ministry which had proposed that Parliament abolish the requirement of having at least one university in each county.
Education CS George Magoha has previously termed the move political saying it did not resonate with need.
Magoha argues that the current number of institutions have duplicated mandates and instead champions restructuring the institutions through mergers and specialisation.
Currently, there are 33 public universities and seven constituent colleges that are spread in 30 counties.
Nairobi has five public universities, Nyeri three, Uasin Gishu, Tharaka Nithi and Kisii have two each.
If effected, the proposal could advantage 17 counties yet to benefit from the establishment of a public university.
They are Kwale, Tana River, Lamu, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, Makueni, Nyandarua, West Pokot, Samburu, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Kajiado, Busia and Nyamira.
University and Academic Staff Union in October protested against the proposal to scrap a law that requires the government to construct an institution in each county.
Secretary-general, Constantine Wasonga, said the bill if passed to law will favour counties with established public universities.
Wesonga spoke during a presentation to the Education Committee collecting the views of stakeholders on the proposed changes on October 28.
Wasonga said the proposal affects counties and should therefore be considered by the Senate and National Assembly.
They further oppose the proposal saying it could lead to the merge of learning institutions.
“The proposal will open the door to the merger of public universities in violation of pre-existing court orders,” the proposal reads.
Critics of the dons' proposal argue that retaining the provision will mean more human resources, widening the demand for teaching staff.
Speaking to the Star on phone, former CUE chief executive David Some said this could hurt institutions that are currently financially strapped.
“This is a selfish interest from lecturers because they know that the creation of new universities will lead to demand for more dons,” he said.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris