Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) Secretary-General Dr. Charles Mukhwaya has sounded a warning of an imminent nationwide shutdown by academic staff unless urgent reforms are initiated.
This comes amid universities deepening financial crisis, ranging from persistent underfunding, inflating debts, and government inaction threatening the stability of the sector.
In a recent media interview, Dr. Mukhwaya accused the government of neglecting its constitutional mandate to provide quality education, stating that institutions are on the brink of collapsing due to inadequate financial support.
“Each passing day, universities are becoming more financially crippled. The crisis, whether financial or structural is rooted in government failure. Education is a constitutional right, not a favor,” he said.
He took issue with the transition to the 2023 funding model, which he claims unfairly shifts the burden onto already struggling parents. “They told Kenyans the previous model was ineffective. But the new model simply passes the weight of funding onto households. If education is the government’s duty, who bears it now?”
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Dr. Mukhwaya also refuted Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi’s claims that resources are unavailable, calling the claim “artificial.” He questioned why sectors like affordable housing and State House churches continue to receive substantial funding while universities languish in debts.
“There’s enough money, Kenyans are taxed heavily. Previous administrations funded education with lower taxes. Why is it impossible now?” he asked.
The union leader criticized recent proposals to retrench university staff amid a surge in student enrollment, warning that existing workloads are already unsustainable. As institutions increasingly rely on part-time lecturers.
He further raised concerns over the delayed negotiations for the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), despite the current CBA’s phased implementation. “We submitted our proposals. University councils received them but haven’t called us to the table. We’re already behind schedule.”
In addition, universities reportedly owe billions in unremitted statutory deductions covering pensions, loans, and salary-based obligations while declaring redundancies. KUSU and UASU have had to resort to legal action to protect affected staff.
By Masaki Enock
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