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Today, July 15, 2025, the Departmental Committee on Education, chaired by Hon. Julius Kibiwot Melly, officially conducted an oversight visit to the University Funding Board (UFB) in Nairobi. The visit was convened to evaluate disbursement efficiency, project implementation progress, and the sustainability of Kenya’s new university funding model.
The committee’s first concern centered on delays in releasing both operational and development funds to universities. UFB acknowledged that only 70% of the budgeted funds had reached institutions, with the rest pending due to Treasury clearance backlogs. Committee members demanded faster, structured disbursements to prevent learning disruption and financial strain.
Members highlighted stalled infrastructure projects including hostels, science labs, and innovation centers. UFB officials blamed the stalling on liquidity shortages and procurement delays. Parliament emphasized that these delays directly undermine student experience, particularly in growing institutions with rising enrollment.
Committee members raised red flags over inconsistencies between approved budgets and actual procurement activities. UFB explained that recent dual-tender requirements—combining e-procurement and manual vetting—were causing bottlenecks. However, Parliament ordered an audit into procurement records, citing risks of inefficiency and misuse of public funds.
A major concern was the growing number of students admitted without confirmed fee support, leaving families in financial limbo. UFB revealed that a means-testing framework had been rolled out to better identify students in need, but acknowledged delays in communication and fund release. A new escrow-based safeguard is now being implemented to guarantee fee settlement before semester enrollment.
Lawmakers also questioned delays in course approvals, blaming bureaucratic overlaps between university senates, the Commission for University Education, and various professional regulators. The Committee called for a streamlined framework to reduce institutional bottlenecks, especially for professional courses requiring quick certification.
By the end of the session, the Education Committee secured several urgent commitments:
-Remaining funds for stalled infrastructure to be disbursed by August 1.
-A procurement audit taskforce to be established and report back in two weeks.
-Creation of a student fee protection unit within UFB.
-Education Ministry to convene a regulatory harmonization summit by mid-August.
This oversight mission marked a decisive moment in enforcing transparency within Kenya’s higher education financing system. The Committee made it clear that without timely disbursements, efficient procurement, and robust student safeguards, the nation’s academic future could be compromised. A detailed report of today’s findings will be tabled in Parliament before the end of July.
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