Education agencies appeal to MPs over delayed merger, say move hampering recruitment, policy rollout

Education state corporations have appealed to Members of Parliament to intervene over the delayed implementation of a government-backed merger plan, saying the inaction is hampering staff recruitment, disrupting policy rollout and demoralising personnel.

Appearing before the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Education, affected institutions, including the (UF), Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), and the Commission for University Education (CUE,) say the reforms, despite being approved by the Cabinet in January, have been delayed, leaving agencies unable to function effectively.

On January 21, the Cabinet, led by President William Ruto, approved the merger of 42 state corporations into 20 entities and dissolved 25 others, transferring their functions to parent ministries or relevant agencies. The government said the goal of the consolidation was to improve efficiency, eliminate duplication and align public service with the country’s evolving development priorities.

Among the planned mergers is the consolidation of the Universities Fund with the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb), and the amalgamation of TVETA, CUE and the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) into one regulatory agency overseeing post-secondary education quality assurance.

Operational paralysis

However, implementation of the Cabinet directive is yet to begin, creating operational paralysis across affected agencies. A moratorium issued by Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau on the same day of approval froze all changes to organisational structures, salary scales and new capital projects in the target institutions.

Adding to the uncertainty, a circular from Head of Public Service Felix Koskei on May 25 suspended the renewal of contracts for officers serving in the affected agencies, further heightening staff anxiety.

“We are operating at 60 per cent of our approved staff establishment, which has hampered our ability to deliver on our mandate,” UF Acting Chief Executive Officer Edwin Wanyonyi told the legislators.

He said the pending merger with Helb has stalled essential human resource interventions such as recruitment and salary restructuring, weakening the agency’s ability to implement policies.

“Despite continuous engagement with the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury, the reforms have not gained momentum. We request your intervention to speed up the merger or facilitate the approval of HR instruments to safeguard our capacity,” Wanyonyi said.

TVETA Acting Director General Timothy Nyongesa also raised concerns, telling the committee chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly that the delay has led to low staff morale and confusion about the agency’s future.

“The uncertainty surrounding our existence as an autonomous agency has led to speculation and low morale. Allow TVETA to exist as an independent entity. It addresses a unique sector that requires unique and customised interventions,” Nyongesa said.

He warned that the merger, which seeks to fold TVETA into a joint regulator with CUE and KNQA, risks compromising the distinctive and specialised nature of technical and vocational education oversight.

“Merging us with university and qualifications agencies risks diluting our focus. The merger must be carefully considered and not rushed,” he said.

The National Treasury Cabinet Secretary is expected to spearhead the reforms. However, the ongoing delays have made it difficult for agencies to retain skilled personnel, attract new talent, or plan for continuity, especially with contracts expiring and budgets constrained.

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