The government has begun streamlining the new higher education funding model in an effort to improve efficiency and ensure universities receive funds on time, Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research Dr. Beatrice Inyangala has said.
Speaking during the 13th graduation ceremony of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), Dr. Inyangala acknowledged that the model has faced challenges, including delayed disbursements that have disrupted operations in several institutions. She said the ongoing reforms are designed to strengthen accountability and guarantee that every shilling allocated to higher education reaches its intended beneficiary.
According to the PS, the revamped model aligns government resources with the needs of individual learners while safeguarding the long-term financial stability of universities. She noted that once fully streamlined, the model will support institutions to develop the human capital and technological capacity required to drive the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, Vision 2030 and Kenya’s broader development goals.
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Dr. Inyangala emphasized that the responsibility of supporting higher education cannot rest solely on the government. She urged the private sector, corporate organizations and philanthropists to partner with universities through scholarships, research funding and internship opportunities. “By working with universities, industries will not only build skills but also create ethically grounded and future-ready graduates,” she said.
The PS commended JOOUST for its progress in research, innovation and technology transfer, noting that the university has secured KSh112 million in external research funding. The grants support postgraduate training, climate research, biotechnology and equipment acquisition, areas she said are critical to the government’s economic transformation agenda.
University Chancellor Prof. Shem Wandiga and Council Vice Chair Amb. Ambeyi Ligabo praised the institution’s growth in infrastructure and student numbers. Prof. Wandiga said rising enrolment has increased demand for facilities, adding that the newly completed library will serve as a centre of excellence for years to come.
Amb. Ligabo highlighted JOOUST’s growing national and international visibility through research collaborations and strategic partnerships. He said the university has launched an endowment fund and a foundation to strengthen resource mobilisation and cushion the institution from funding gaps.
A total of 1,862 graduands received degrees, diplomas and certificates during the ceremony.
By Erick Nyayiera
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