Universities in These Regions Face Closure & Merging in New Reforms
In line with Section 26 of the University Act, the Commission of University Education is required to ensure that public universities are established in every county, with a preference for those that do not currently have any.
At least 17 counties without a public university may never get the chance to have one, though, if Kenyans embrace radical proposals to ban the development of higher education institutions in the devolved areas.
The University Act, approved by Parliament in 2012, stipulates that every county must have a public university.
According to the reform team’s study, given the condition of the public colleges that have already been built, this demand is not financially possible.
As a result, the team suggests completely repealing Section 26 of the University Act.
This may mean that none of the 17 counties on the list will ever have universities.
Along with Kwale, Tana River, Lamu, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, Makueni, Nyandarua, West Pokot, Samburu, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Kajiado, and Nyamira, these counties also contain Elgeyo Marakwet and Busia.
The government is strongly urged by the reform team to hold off on building new universities in certain areas.
39 public colleges and universities are located in 30 counties at the moment. The five universities in Nairobi County are the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Multimedia University, Technical University of Kenya, and Co-operative University.
The three universities in Nyeri County are Mama Ngina University College, Dedan Kimathi, and Karatina. Kisii has one university, while Uasin Gishu has two.
Bomet, Turkana, Taita Taveta, Embu, Kilifi, Kitui, Garissa, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Machakos, Kiambu, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Nakuru, Laikipia, Narok, Migori, Kisumu, Siaya, Nandi, Kakamega, and Bungoma are among the other counties that have universities.
Universities in These Regions Face Closure & Merging in New Reforms
By modifying the University Act, the Ministry of Education previously attempted to abolish the requirement for a university in every county, but the National Assembly has not yet approved the bill.
The Ministry of Education‘s intentions are opposed by the group that represents lecturers, the University and Academic Staff group.
The current clause should be kept in place, according to UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga, in a presentation before the National Assembly’s Education Committee on October 28, 2021.
Wasonga claimed that by eliminating the clause, which favours counties with strong institutions, prejudice will ensue.
It is likely that no new public universities will be founded under the new framework suggested by the reform committee, and the survival of the current institutions would depend on how well they perform.
The group wants to repeal the statute requiring the creation of at least one public institution in each county.
