CS Machogu Unveils Plans to Help Universities Clear Huge Debts

Ezekiel Machogu
Education CS Ezekiel Machogu during the release of the 2022 KCPE on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.
KBC

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu hinted at a financial strategy that was geared towards getting public universities out of the current debt hole.

While addressing the first Biennial Kenya Universities Funding Conference on Thursday, February 23, Machogu revealed that President William Ruto's government had approved money that will partly be used to settle the piling debts. 

However, Machogu explained that universities will have to provide accounts and details of the debts owed to suppliers, including the corresponding budgetary approvals. 

"Kenyan public universities owe suppliers some Ksh56 billion in unpaid bills, remittances and other volatile debts," CS Ezekiel Machogu noted. 

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu opening the 1st Biennial Kenya Universities Funding Conference on Thursday February 23,2023
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu opening the 1st Biennial Kenya Universities Funding Conference on Thursday February 23,2023.
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Ministry of Education

The Education CS asked university management teams to consider using the existing debt payment framework to help them clear the pending bills. 

"In this financial year, the funding requirement for public universities is Ksh71 billion against the approved allocation of Ksh44 billion. 

"This is a deficit of Ksh27, which President William Ruto's government is committed to meeting in order to ensure that our universities are free of bad debts," Machogu noted. 

He asked beneficiaries of local academic programmes, including alumni to contribute support the various institutions they attended.

The Education CS also noted that financial provisions by the Kenya Kwanza government will significantly reduce the tuition fee pressure that universities have been piling on students.  

On average, privately sponsored students often pay around Ksh500,000 for a university degree, during their study period. 

He revealed that the government already allocated a capitation of Ksh50 billion for University Education and Ksh15.8 billion to the Higher Education Loans Board.

Machogu noted that the Kenya Kwanza government is committed to lowering the cost of education, including university studies. 

On November 8, 2022, Machogu refuted claims that the government will stop funding universities, noting that he was grossly misquoted by the Press. 

He, however, Machogu put public universities on notice, asking them to think of how to generate their revenue as the state will not condone growing pending bills. 

Machogu's remarks came days after President William Ruto's task force on education proposed an upward review of university fees for government-sponsored students, from Ksh16,000 to Ksh52,000.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu (in red tie) arrives at the Green Park Terminus during the launch of the Hustlers' Fund on Novembetr 30, 2022.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu (in red tie) arrives at the Green Park Terminus during the launch of the Hustlers' Fund on November 30, 2022.
Kenyans.co.ke
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