Emmanuel Manyasa, Executive Director of Usawa Agenda and education analyst, has highlighted that Kenya’s challenges in financing public universities are primarily due to insufficient government allocations rather than flaws in the existing funding formula.
In an interview on July 28, 2026, Manyasa critiqued the rushed implementation of the Student-Centred Funding Model introduced three years ago, stating it has complicated university financing but does not address the fundamental problem.
Key points from Manyasa’s analysis include:
- The government initially aimed to cover about 80% of universities’ operational costs but current funding has dropped to roughly 40%, forcing institutions into financial strain.
- Budget ceilings, rather than students’ actual financial needs, dictate funding bands, limiting support for many students.
- Without addressing the root cause—budget constraints—changes to the funding framework alone will not resolve the crisis.
Manyasa’s views align with National Assembly Education Committee Chair Julius Melly, who noted that chronic underfunding has plagued university financing for decades. Melly referenced earlier models like the Differentiated Unit Cost system, which failed to keep pace with growing enrolment and costs, leading to university debts.
Masinde Muliro University Vice-Chancellor Solomon Shibairo acknowledged some improvements under the current model, with government funding rising to about 55% of operational costs from previous levels near 20%. However, he emphasized that universities still operate below capacity, often prioritizing salaries over research and essential resources.
The ongoing debate over Kenya’s university funding model underscores calls from education stakeholders for increased and sustainable investment rather than frequent formula changes to secure the sector’s future.
