MPs Want Machogu, Ndungu Summoned Over University Financial Crisis.
The MP wants Education CS Ezekiel Machogu and his Finance Minister counterpart Njuguna Ndungu to be recalled in the financial crisis facing public universities.
This came after Kamkunji MP Yusuf Hasan, chairman of the education and research department committee, proposed the government to take action to prevent further arrears by public universities.
In the past, public universities struggled to survive because they could not pay legal fees and because of banks, contractors and suppliers,” said the MP.
According to parliamentarians, until June 2022, the total debt of this organization was sh.56.5 billion and this figure is increasing.
Kuppet chairman and MP Emuhaya Omboko Milemba said the state’s universities could collapse in two years if nothing is done.
If we don’t take care of it, eventually it will collapse and I don’t think we have much time, maybe in two years it will be a big problem,” said Milemba.
Seme MP James Nyikal accused the government of neglecting higher education institutions, even to the extent that students do not want to study.
Lawmakers say they cannot bury their heads in the sand and wait for institutions to collapse.If we don’t take care, public universities will die. Parliament, we say, is weak. Soon all institutions will be closed and Kenya will be a laughing stock,” he said.
The MP asked the Speaker to review the two Cabinet Secretaries and find a lasting solution for the Education Committee, chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly.
“We need to take this issue seriously and call the education and finance ministers here and let Parliament deal with it,” Pkosing said.
Lawmakers say students from poor families will be the most affected if the current crisis is not resolve.
It emerged that the University of Nairobi had raised tuition and accommodation fees, leaving Egerton unable to pay staff in full.
Other public universities have chosen to close some campuses to reduce operating costs.
Parliament did not amend the Standing Orders for Cabinet Secretaries to address accountability questions.
Now, members of parliament can call CSs through their departmental committees or “to answer various problems in their service.
