How KU plans to tackle low student enrolment

In this interactive series, we invite our readers to send in questions to selected public figures.

Answers will be published in the next print and online editions. This week, Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Paul Wainaina responds to your questions:

1. (a) I would like to know when Kenyatta University Teaching, Research and Referral Hospital (KUTRRH) is likely to open. Would you also say whether it will have hostels for medical students? Andrew Chege Githiria, KU

(b) The opening of KUTRRH is behind schedule. It was supposed to be up and running by last year. When is it going to open its doors to the public? What about recruitment of healthcare staff? What are the plans to make KUH a top medical and research centre?

Billy Rotich

The infrastructure development work and equipment installation is complete.

That means the hospital is ready to start operations.

However, as a university hospital, the facility in itself cannot be operational until you look at the other factors, including human resource and capacity building.

For this to happen, an enormous budgetary requirement should be put in place.

The university is working on this with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and the National Treasury who are the stakeholders.

As soon as all the system are in place, the hospital will open. Yes, there are plans to have hostels at the hospital for medical students.

But these will be developed at a later stage.

In the meantime, there is a direct link between the university and the hospital — stretching about a kilometre.

Students from the main campus hostels will, therefore, access the hospital using the university shuttle service, which is in place.

2. I sat for my supplementary examination for the Master of Arts degree (AGE 802: Quantitative Methods) on May 24, 2016, yet to date I have not received my results. The lecturer involved and the Department of Geography have not been helpful. All they say is that they cannot trace my marks. This has barred me from proceeding to my second year. Is the Vice Chancellor aware of such frustrations that students are going through? When will I receive my marks?

Zipporah Birech, Eldoret

We are unable to discuss individual student issues in public forums.

I urge you, however, to contact the Registrar (Academic) to have the issues resolved.

If the same is not resolved to your satisfaction, feel free to contact my office.

3. For approved or vetted part-time lecturers to consistently teach at the university depends on how low someone can bow to the department leadership. Even getting paid for services rendered as per one’s appointment letter is at the mercy of the secretary of the department’s chairperson, who processes the request for payment. The secretary can deliberately withhold processing a part-time lecturer’s request for payment for various reasons. Complaints on this situation, even when channelled through your office, are never responded to. For instance, refer to emails sent your official address on December 8, 2016 and January 17, 2017. What structures are you putting in place to ensure fast and efficient payment for part-timers lecturers?

Nick Mwendwa

Whenever Kenyatta University identifies shortfalls in the teaching staff establishment, it advertises for those positions to the public with set minimum requirements.

Only professionals who meet these criteria are shortlisted for engagement.

The most qualified applicant is identified and engaged.

The university has a laid-down structure on payment of lecturers, irrespective of whether they are on part-time or permanent terms of employment.

The lecturers are expected to have taught, examined, marked and accounted for the marks of all the students who studied that particular unit.

Once this is verified, payments are processed through the chairman of the department and after recommendation by the deputy vice-chancellor (Academic).

We won’t discuss personal issues on this forum; visit the DVC Academic or see my personal assistant to resolve your issue.

4. How does KU spend money generated from Module Two programmes? Is the spending audited by the Auditor General?

Ida Wangui, Kangema

Kenyatta University does not keep separate books of accounts for government-sponsored and self-sponsored students.

The budget of the university is one unit, comprising income from fees from all students and government grants.

All the money is spent as per the budget approved by the government. The university is audited by the office of the Auditor General annually.

5. One of the main ways public universities make money is through Module Two (parallel) programmes. But the results of last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination (KCSE) mean that almost all students who scored C+ and above qualify for admission to public universities under government sponsorship. How is this going to affect public universities? What alternative sources of revenue does the university have to plug the shortfall?

Mogaka Weldon, Nairobi

All universities, both public and private, are experiencing financial challenges. But KU is laying strategies on cost cutting and cost saving.

This will include popularising our strong programmes and aggressively marketing new ones.

We will also focus on post-graduate programmes and international students, as well as encourage the teaching staff to engage in externally-funded research.

As a relatively older university, our professors are highly respected and can attract big research projects.

Module II programmes are among other major sources of revenue for universities.

To meet teaching and research needs, various policy interventions have been going on, including support by the government.

Other initiatives such as partnerships and collaborations have also been scaled up to meet operational targets and realign with the realities of tertiary education.

6. I obtained a D+ in KCSE with 30 points. Which certificate course can I take at your institution? I was not a low-performing student. The results surprised me.

Mwabali J.

Take a certificate course in the area you wish to pursue.

Thereafter, take a diploma course that will form the foundation for a degree course.

Though your journey to a degree will take longer, you will have achieved your dream.

READ: Where to? Dilemma for Form Four leavers

At the moment, as per the policy, a student is expected to progress from a certificate course if he scored a grade C- at KCSE, and a diploma with grade C plain.

Whenever students like yourself visit our university, we provide them with information on alternative career paths, even when they are not admissible to Kenyatta University.

7. What measures is the university management putting in place to alleviate the perennial problem of missing marks for students who are due to graduate?

Andrew Maranga, Malindi

Kenyatta University endeavours to ensure that all students finalise their studies within the set timelines.

To eliminate unposted marks, the university established an office to deal with such cases.

We have also put in place an examination processing policy which makes it mandatory for all Deans of Schools to account for all students who sat for a particular examination.

Note that the university cannot approve marks for any taught unit during the University Board of Examiners if a single student who did an exam cannot be accounted for.

8. The ongoing developments at Kenyatta University are closely associated with your predecessor, Prof Olive Mugenda. How will you chart your own development path while still attending to those initiated by your predecessor?

Francis Njuguna, Kibichoi

We all recognise the strong legacy left by Prof Mugenda.

My challenge is not only to maintain the strong brand she left behind, but to also focus on areas that require more resources.

What immediately comes to mind are three things: Research, devolution of governance structures, and staff welfare.

In terms of infrastructure, we are leaning more towards developing research labs for high-level research work and industrial parks.

9. Many KU alumni, myself included, are privy to the struggles the university has been going through to repossess its land occupied by squatters. This has derailed many expansion projects. Have you been able to resolve this issue? Has there been political interference on this matter?

Komen Moris, Eldoret

Land is an emotive issue in Kenya. We have been seeking legal redress to illegal settlement of land belonging to the university.

The issue is currently in court and I am therefore not able to comment further. But I am optimistic that it will be resolved amicably.

The national government and the National Lands Commission have been very supportive on this.

10. Every year, the Equity Foundation, under its flagship scholarship programme ‘Wings to Fly’, sponsors top performers from secondary schools to study at top universities in the world. While this seems like an indictment on the quality and ability of our universities, we all give it a standing ovation. Are our universities unable to handle the academic needs of these scholars so that we retain these financial resources? What is the major hurdle?

Komen Moris, Eldoret

The Wings to Fly programme is noble. It deserves support from all those who believe in the potential of our youth.

In this era of globalisation, it is desirable that our brightest students acquire their university education in leading multicultural institutions outside the country.

Still, the majority of our high-fliers in KCSE examinations are actually admitted to local universities.

Many of them go on to record impressive results and graduate to take up nation building roles.

This has been a trend since the establishment of the first public university in Kenya.

11. When my son applied for Cisco networking, only four modules were advertised at Sh44,000. On admission, two general modules (IT essentials and Security) were added, making us pay an extra Sh22,000. In other colleges, only CCNA 1 to 4 are taught. What is unique about these programme?

John Kangara

CCNA modules offered at KU Cisco Networking Academy are not limited to CCNA 1- 4.

We have IT Essentials, CCNA1-4, CCNA Security, Cyber Security Essentials and IOT. 

Cisco Academy charges fees according to which module a student enrols in, as indicated in our brochures.

We only charge after a student has shown interest in a module and has enrolled in a particular module.

No modules are compulsory for students at KU Cisco Networking Academy. 

Students apply for modules freely and at their own discretion, with KU providing relevant advise.

Also, note that we offer CCNA 1-4 which are charged at Sh11,000 per module. This implies that the total cost is Sh44,000.

The cybersecurity certification lays the procedure for job rules — such as network security specialist, network security administrator and network security support, and is a separate course.

The course duration is eight weeks and requires one to have successfully completed CCNA 1-4.

12. On November 4, 2017, you published an article in the Saturday Nation: ‘Student elections under new rules provide lessons on peaceful elections’. Is it not an illusion to suggest that ‘rules’ can make people conduct peaceful elections? Then on November 18, 2018, another article was published: ‘New varsity election rules far from perfect’. Because of the Electoral College system of voting, most students don’t know their leaders since they never had a hand in electing them — a clear sign of a peaceful autocracy. Students cannot hold their congress-elected ‘leaders’ to account, while the university management decides who should be a student leader. Why do you take such great interest in killing democracy and the rights of students?

Muchira Gachenge, Moi University

The newspaper editor makes the decision on what headline to use, not the author.

My article expounded on the Act, touching on students’ elections as enacted by Parliament and adopted by the Congresses of Student Associations and University Senates.

Look at the whole applicable section (1B) of the Act, which deals with the composition of the Students’ Governing Council — ethnic diversity, regional balance and gender balance.

This provision and the success of implementing it made the students elections do what has eluded both Parliament and the Supreme Court and it is something the country can learn from.

The Electoral College system of voting does not imply non-participation of students.

Students elect delegates through universal suffrage. It is used in the US presidential elections.

It is not true that the university management decides who should be a student leader. We cannot be guided by mere suspicion.

I allowed the Electoral Commission to do its work independently with no interference.

In addition, the parliamentary committee on justice and legal affairs also asked students to provide evidence of interference by the university management.

They found none. These rules, if well implemented, will make students elections better and more transparent.

13. I would like to draw your attention to Gate C at KU main campus. That gate is too narrow to be used by buses and trucks. It keeps scratching our vehicles when we come to KU for games, or to the funeral home. Your personal intervention is sought on this matter. The gate should be widened. 

John Waweru, Nairobi

We have reviewed the gate and the problem appears to be the middle pillar that creates a challenge to large commercial vehicles.

We appreciate your concern and will consult our engineers to address the problem.