Blow to Gov’t because the court refuses to suspend the decision to annul the new university financing model

In his decision, Judge Chacha Mwita reaffirmed the decision on December 20 last year, which mentioned that the financing model violated the Constitution.

The application, submitted by the Central Placement Service of Kenya universities and colleges, has requested a temporary suspension of the court’s decision to allow the new financing model to regulate.

In December last year, the High Court declared the new unconstitutional model.

In his decision on Wednesday, the High Court decided: “The public interest is better served when everyone operates within the law. The new financing model has been shown to be in contradiction with the existing Constitution and laws, and the suspension of its cancellation would only allow the actions taken outside the legal framework. “

Justice Chacha Mwita also said: “I am not convinced that there is a merit in granting the request. Therefore, the request of January 27, 2025, is refused and rejected. “

The Ministry of Education, following the standff, moved to provide the over 245,000 candidates who took the KCSE examination from 2024 that they will be admitted to universities until September, despite the deadlock.

The main secretary of Higher Education (PS) Beatrice Inyangala met with the parties interested in education in Naivasha, including the Education Committee of the National Assembly, to deliberate on tooth problems within the new financing model.

“What we are sure is that we have time until September to solve problems under the new model. All those students who have to join the universities, we assure you that you will all join your university,” said Inyangala.

According to the PS for higher education, the ministry is scheduled to provide guidelines on the opening of the portal Kenya Universities and College Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) for 2024 KCSE.

She added: “The new financing model brings more money to the education sector. Under the old model, we would take 20 years to get where we are today.”

The central placement service in universities and colleagues in Kenya claimed that the cancellation of the model created uncertainty in financing for higher education, affecting the students from the first year that have already been placed in universities under the new system by the Ministry of Education.

The parliamentarians who joined the interested parties in Naivasha asked for a new round of discussions to make the new financing model more efficient, saying it is almost impossible for taxpayers to finance all universities.

“We have challenges with the financing model. Our economy, at this moment, cannot finance all university students. We must start public participation in this model, so that we can balance and solve the problem,” said the Education Committee.

In addition to the financing model, the Ministry of Education says they are experiencing financial challenges, universities experiencing financial constraints and debts increasing from 60 billion KSH to KSH.72 billion at present.