KENYA:Students oppose universities fee increment

Student leaders from public universities have threatened to stage a nationwide protest to oppose a move by the government to review their fees upwards.

The student leaders, under the banner of Kenya University Students’ Community, warned of dire consequences if the government does not back down on its stand.

The Commission for University Education (CUE) earlier this month indicated that fees will be increased from September 2014 for the new academic year. 

The Commission led by Prof David Some had sought to justify the increase as a result of setting up maximum charges for each course, a move that will see science courses attract higher fees.

“In case the government makes good its threat to raise the fees, we will mobilize all students across the country in a demonstration like no other,” said Student Organization of Maseno University president, Mr Charles Juma.

The student leaders termed the arbitrary decision by the government unconstitutional adding that they will fight back.

They sated that they had not been consulted and the government acted unilaterally against the constitutional spirit adding that no body to review fees had been set up.

“Secondly, the law, the University Act, provides a framework for review, if there shall be, of school fees. This mandate lies with the yet to be established Universities Fund Board, Said Kenyatta University student leader Mr Lone Felix.

The student leaders are now calling for the establishment of the fund board that will have their representative since its decisions will directly affect them.

They are also calling on the government to increase capitation to public universities which was exerting pressure on Vice Chancellor who are now resorting to increase their fees.

“We have noted over the last year that the capitation to university has been reducing which is a worrying trend. The government must support higher education instead of being obstacles,” said Meshack Achola, Secretary General Technical Universities.

The posed why the government would make primary education free, subsidize secondary education then deliberately make higher education out of reach.

The upward review would see students pay above the average fee of Sh26,000 with different fees pegged on the course undertaken.

The fees have remained largely unchanged since 1995. Similar protests met proposal by a World Bank study in 2010 that had recommended that university fees be doubled and rates on Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans be increased.

The review is expected to offer the cash-strapped institutions that are grappling with sharp rise in enrolment of students from 62,677 in 2002 to 194,528 last year.