Private universities have decried the delayed disbursement of capitation funds to the institutions, demanding that they be paid what is rightfully theirs.
Highland University Vice Chancellor Robert Lang’at termed the delay a major challenge, having hampered operations at the universities.
Speaking during a graduation at the university, Lang’at disclosed that the institution is owed over Ksh600 million by the government, with capitation falling from Ksh70,000 per student to Ksh15,000.
“This university alone is owed by the government more than Ksh600 million. The capitation fell from nearly 70,000 per student to almost 15,000 per student this year,” he said, fearing that the capitation will decrease to as low as Ksh8,000 this year, a problem he attributed to the withdrawal of the Finance Bill.
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He listed liquidity, inadequate infrastructure, human resource competence, low research output, decreasing donor support and unfavourable government regulations as some of the problems facing the institutions.
“I understand the budget to fund students has come down significantly this year and with the Gen Zs rejecting the Finance Bill, our work is not easy. It’s coming down to about 8,000 per student,” he opined.
He accused the government for sidelining private universities in terms of funding, saying the discrimination has slowed down development in the institutions.
Lang’at, who is also the Bishop of Africa Gospel Church, is now demanding the immediate payment of the universities’ dues, which he says rightly belong to them.
” We would like to request, may be even demand because it is our money, that the government of Kenya considers as a matter of immediate urgency payment, not only of Kenya Highland but all our private universities that have been used by the government over the last few years to train their man-power. Pay the private universities their dues, it is not a request, it is a demand,” said Lang’at.
By Kimutai Lang’at
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