‘We expect nothing short of an equal, fair and just university funding model’ – Senator Onyonka
![‘We expect nothing short of an equal, fair and just university funding model’ – Senator Onyonka](https://peopledaily.digital/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Richard-Onyonka.jpg)
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has called on the government to create a new university funding model that puts into consideration factors such as equity, fairness and justice.
This follows a court ruling in December 2024 that anulled the new funding model, which had been in force since May 2023.
“Since the court annulled the tertiary funding model in December 2024 and the MoE is looking at developing a new model/policy by September 2025. We expect nothing short of an equal, fair & just funding model which does not disenfranchise the underprivileged! This is what we want!” Onyonka stated.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced that a revised version of the new university funding model will soon be unveiled once a technical team completes a review of the annulled formula. According to Ogamba, the revised formula will have expanded variables in the Means Testing Instrument (MTI).
“The final report will be ready by the end of the week or early February,” Ogamba said.
The revised model, according to Ogamba, will be implemented in September 2025.
In the previous model which is being revised, students had complained that MTI was faulty and had banded needy students into categories in which they were unable to fund their learning.
Additionally, the students decried the tedious appeal process, stating that those in charge of the appeals were unresponsive to their needs on time.
In September 2024, President William Ruto appointed a national working committee on the review of the new university funding model.
In a gazette notice on Monday, September 16, 2024, Ruto appointed a four-pronged committee to examine the grey areas that had confused universities nationwide.
“I do order and direct that the National Working Committee on Review of the New University Education Funding Model is hereby established,” Ruto said.
“The Committee shall comprise the following four Workstreams/ sub-committees: The Workstream on the Review and Refinement of the New Funding Model for Universities and Technical, Vocational Education and Training Institutions (TVETs); The Workstream on Appeals arising from the categorization of students into various eligibility bands for allocation of Scholarships and Loans; The Workstream on Structure of Student Loans; and The Workstream on the Review of the cost of University Academic Programmes.”