UoN students issue 14-day strike notice over varsity funding model committee

Barely a day after President William Ruto formed a 129-member committee to review the new funding model, the University of Nairobi Student Association (UNSA) has now issued a 14-day strike notice challenging the move.

In a statement on Tuesday, UNSA President Rocha Madzao vehemently opposed the government's actions, arguing that the proposed changes do not align with the needs of students or the nation's educational goals.

Madzao expressed concerns about the creation of four committees assigned to address issues related to the loan scheme, noting that many students, especially those from marginalised backgrounds like boda boda riders and market vendors, remain in a state of uncertainty.

“These groups, who rely heavily on affordable education, are feeling increasingly marginalised as the government focuses more on infrastructure development rather than improving access to education,” Madzao said.

He questioned the need for a Loans Committee, stating, “Why do we need a Loans Committee when we’ve been clear that we don’t want loans? The government should prioritise education for all. Why should they take billions of loans to invest in infrastructure while making us pay for loans for our education?”

Madzao also criticised the government's lack of transparency and failure to meet electoral promises. He claimed that political commitments, especially those aimed at youth and disadvantaged groups, are being overlooked in favour of policies that benefit only the elite.

The association has called for the immediate disbandment of the newly formed committees, specifically citing Bands 4 and 5, which have been set up to oversee loan disbursements.

The student body argues that the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) should manage educational loans without additional bureaucratic layers that could impede the process.

“We don’t see the point of a committee to review loans when we already have HELB. We will not pay for loans while the government takes more loans for projects that don’t benefit the common mwananchi,” Madzao said.

The students are also preparing to challenge the government's approach legally. Madzao revealed that they plan to submit a petition to Parliament to stop the current model, which they believe is flawed.

The strike is scheduled to commence after the 14-day notice period, with students pledging to continue protests and legal actions until their demands are addressed.

President Ruto had tasked the newly formed committee to review the structure of student loans with regard to the terms of the loans, including current interest rates, penalties and repayment periods, considering post-graduation employment and work prospects and incomes.

The Committee is also supposed to establish the potential of the New Funding Model to steer the Nation towards the sustainable funding of Public Universities and TVETs

The members will also analyse and make recommendations for the rationalisation of the cost of university programmes and the mobilisation of the requisite resources for funding university education.

According to Ruto, the committee is set to operate for eight weeks, beginning September 16 and will report directly to him through the Cabinet Secretary for Education.