President William Ruto has announced a positive shift in the financial fortunes of Kenya’s public universities, many of which were previously grappling with overwhelming debt. Speaking on Wednesday in Karen during the installation of William Chitunga as the new Chancellor of the Co-operative University of Kenya, Ruto expressed optimism that the worst was behind the higher education sector.
“Today I can proudly say the universities that were struggling two years ago with debts, with 23 of them already declared bankrupt, are now on an upward mobility,” Ruto stated.
The President credited the turnaround to the government’s decisive interventions, including the implementation of new financial strategies aimed at eliminating long-standing debt burdens. These measures are part of broader reforms recommended by a presidential taskforce established to chart a recovery path for the education sector.
Ruto noted that the taskforce had received over 32,000 submissions from stakeholders, signalling broad engagement in shaping the sector’s future. He added that university vice-chancellors had already reported positive developments. “All university workers have been paid, taxes settled, and there are no outstanding debts with suppliers,” Ruto said, adding that the government was working to resolve minor issues raised by students, particularly concerning funding band classifications.
He emphasized the importance of ongoing reviews and feedback from the taskforce, stating that continuous improvement was crucial to achieving the country’s long-term development goals through education.
“If we get our education and training right, we are well on course to getting our prosperity and development right,” Ruto said.
The President also highlighted several milestones in the sector, including the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), recruitment of more teachers, increased resource allocation to universities, and the adoption of a student-centred funding model. These initiatives, he said, reflect his administration’s commitment to ensuring access to quality, sustainable higher education.
The remarks come at a time when the government is under increasing pressure to reform the education sector and restore public confidence in universities, many of which had faced operational challenges due to mismanagement and inadequate funding.
