Don’t increase fees, varsity students say

The Education ministry’s plan to increase fees in public universities is facing opposition from students and Parliament, but Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi is unrelenting on the issue.

Last month, the Commission for University Education (CUE) indicated that the fees, which Prof Kaimenyi described as “too low”, will be increased from September.

Students under the regular programme pay about Sh15,000 per semester. The government wants to increase this amount to Sh26,000. But university student bodies are against the proposed fees increase, saying it will prevent students from poor backgrounds from  attaining university education.

Students Organisation of Nairobi University (Sonu) Finance Secretary Linda Guantai told the Sunday Nation yesterday that a fee increase will negatively affect students. “We cannot agree with Prof Kaimenyi. So far, many students are struggling to pay their fees, and increasing it will lead to most of us dropping out.

“The government should even consider making education in public universities cheaper than it is now.”

In a telephone interview, Sonu Chairman Babu Owino said university students will not accept any increase in fees since the money available for them is not enough in the first place. “You cannot increase fees yet loan offered by Helb is not enough,” he said.

On Thursday, Kiharu MP Irungu Kang’ata gave Prof Kaimenyi a two-week ultimatum to reverse the plans to increase public university fees or face action.

INFLATION

But Mr Kaimenyi said the fee structure has not been reviewed in more than 10 years yet universities have been affected by inflation.

Earlier this week, National University Students Organisation (Nuso)Nuso Convener Nathaniel Akaduma of Moi University, speaking at a press conference organised by the organisation, threatened a strike if the government goes on to increase the fees.

Twitter users have been expressing their dismay at the move on the social networking site.

“After passing the bill to increase university fees, MPs will increase their salaries so that they can ‘afford’ the fee for their children,” wrote one person using the name SophisticAlien.

Alfredo Lantryre tweeted:

“A third-world nation like Kenya shouldn’t increase university fees; a country abound with poor students especially”.

Eric Mathu said:

“No loan increment for students, government wants to pay the Anglo-Leasing companies and ironically increase university fees”.

“The same government that failed to increase minimum wage now planning to increase minimum university fee,” tweeted one Okwaro.

“Kaimenyi, listen; no University should increase fees before they tell us what they do with money collected from self-sponsored students,” said Joseph Ayieko.

While Epraim Kariuki stated: “The government’s move to increase university fees betrays their claims of youth empowerment #UnivStudentsMovement”.