Students of Murang’a University of Technology have threatened to go on the streets if Education CS Ezekiel Machogu does not rescind his pronouncements on funding of public universities.
In a press release on Tuesday, the University Student’s Association led by their Chairman Reuben Mwirigi accused Machogu of trying to stop capitation allocated by the government to public universities.
They argued that students from needy backgrounds stand to suffer most should the government fail to fund universities, since majority of parents will no longer afford to cater for their children who join institutions of higher learning.
Recently, the CS was quoted in sections of the media telling public universities to look for other means to generate their revenue in order to stay afloat rather than depending on government capitation.
Machogu’s sentiments have since elicited uproar among various education stakeholders, with some threatening to fight his declaration in a court of law.
“With regard to the sentiments attributed to the Education CS on the possible withdrawal of university capitation, we as Murang’a University Students Association would wish to state that the statement not only undermines the rights of the Kenyan child, but also contravenes article 43 (1) (f) of the Constitution,” read part of the press release.
They further argued that any attempt to remove government capitulation to universities will not only have a serious adverse effect on the institutions, but will also jeopardize the quality of education in the country.
The students urged the CS to reconsider the rush decision and apologize publicly to the relevant education stakeholders, who are also law abiding citizens of the country.
