President Ruto Appoints Technical Team to Review University Funding Model

President William Ruto has established a technical team to review the recently introduced university funding model, which has drawn significant criticism due to claims that many students were excluded, leading to protests. The team, chaired by Professor Japheth Ntiba, will focus on resolving issues related to fees and the categorization of students under the new framework.

The team consists of representatives from university student associations and education experts from various fields. According to President Ruto, the review will be divided into four workstreams. These workstreams will address key areas, such as revising and refining the new funding model for both universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

Each workstream will have co-chairs, with the chairpersons and co-chairpersons forming the Coordination Board to manage the overall review process.

The workstream dedicated to the Review and Refinement of the New Funding Model for Universities and TVETs will be led by Karuti Kanyinga and Dibora Zainab Hirbo. Another workstream, which will handle appeals regarding student eligibility for scholarships and loans, will be co-chaired by Walubengo Waningilo and Lucy Machugu.

The workstream focusing on the structure of student loans will be headed by Robert Oduor Otieno and Aron Kiprotich Bett, while the final workstream, tasked with reviewing the cost of university academic programs, will be co-chaired by Mohamed S. Rajab and Patrick Malanga.