University councils have been urged to re-examine and clarify the governance architecture of public universities, explore policy and legislative mechanisms for improved council functioning, and propose sustainable financing strategies and resource mobilization models.
Speaking in Mombasa during the inaugural National Retreat for Chairpersons of Public University Councils, Ogamba emphasized the councils’ critical role in national development, academic innovation, and institutional integrity.
He called for closer coordination between university councils and the Ministry of Education, stressing that councils must embrace their mandate as oversight authorities rather than executive actors.
The retreat, the CS stated, comes at a time when Universities are reeling from a plethora of governance challenges, many of which can be traced to the doors of councils. Bluntly, he revealed that some of the councils have become a major letdown.
“We have, in recent years, witnessed glaring and appalling cases of ineptitude in some of our universities. Many of these cases are a direct result of financial mismanagement, administrative disorder and human resource decay,” stated the CS.
He added that there are reports and court cases of human resource malpractices, over-employment of staff and, in some cases, ethnic discrimination linked to questionable decision-making by councils.
“Some of these leadership gaps have, oftentimes, compelled the Ministry of Education to step in with painful but necessary interventions to stop the affected universities from falling into a deeper leadership chaos. Some of these unfortunate council decisions have also exposed the public to costly litigation.”
The retreat, he added, is not just a routine engagement but rather a serious and timely platform for introspection, strategy and collective problem-solving.
The CS termed the theme of the retreat “Strategic Leadership and Sustainability of Public Universities in Kenya” as timely and urgent, as universities are grappling with complex issues: financial instability, governance challenges, low global competitiveness, and diminishing public trust.
The councils were assured of the ministry’s commitment to ensure they operate independently without political interference in their operations.
Meanwhile, the CS highlighted strides made in Higher Education in the past two years, including the rolling out of a New Higher Education Funding Model to ensure equity and access.
“This model is now enabling thousands of students from vulnerable and low-income backgrounds to join university without the crushing burden of fees,” said the CS, adding that the model is being enhanced to address teething challenges.
Other notable reform is the review of the Universities Act, 2013, to address pertinent issues concerning management and governance in universities. The draft Universities Bill, 2024, has been subjected to public participation and stakeholder validation and is now awaiting consideration by the Cabinet before submission to Parliament.
“We are confident that the Bill, once passed into law, will provide the foundation for long-term sectoral stability and relevance,” said Ogamba.
By Sadik Hassan
