A rumpus erupted at the Kenya School of Government following a forum between private university stakeholders and the government, which degenerated into chaos. A number of irate students from various private universities vented their anger over being shut out in the new funding model for universities, which solely benefited those in public universities.
Students who were chanting solidarity songs, demanded to know the reasons for the unequal treatment and sought a stakeholder meeting that mainly has student representation. In attendance was the forum that turned disorderly and Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, the Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research.
One of the students was brave enough to raise the question: “PS, what empirical evidence was there for this new funding model, and how were its attendant dire consequences considered and addressed? To what extent does the new funding model take into account the constitutional provisions for educational equality, particularly that which concerns marginalized groups?
He went ahead to castigate the move to post 16 000 students to Kisii University while there exist private Universities near the area that have enough facilities and younger tutors. “We are not puppets,” emphasized the student as he dismissed the funding model wholesale, further questioning the employment habits at public universities, particularly the number of tutors below the age of 35.
The incident epitomizes the growing feeling of discontent among private university students, who feel that new funding policies have sidelined them and are seeking to secure a more inclusive and equitable deal when it comes to financing for higher learning.