Youthful lawyer Kipchumba Karori is now asking the government to consider amalgamating some of the existing public universities.
Karori says this is one way the government can tackle the funding challenge that most universities are facing.
For the last few years, public universities have been faced with financial challenges, with the auditor general declaring some of them insolvent due to huge debts that they are unable to service.
Among the universities in deep financial woes include Moi University in Uasin Gishu and Nakuru-based Egerton University.
But with the challenge not far from over, Karori argues that combining some into a single entity would be the better way out.
Kerio Valley University
He was responding to plans by the county government of Elgeyo Marakwet to establish Kerio Valley University.
“Gov, I think the solution is not in establishing more universities but in utilizing the already existing ones to create synergy. Egerton fallen, Moi falling what is the magic in the Kerio university? Is it sustainable? I think we need to even amalgamate the existing ones,” said Karori who is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and an analyst on various issues.
Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisely Rotich on Monday, October 17, 2022, revealed that he received a technical report from a committee he established last month to oversee the establishment of Kerio Valley University.
The committee had been given 30 days to carry out their research, draft findings and offer recommendations on way forward.
“The team led by its chair Prof. Thomas Cheruiyot handed in the report details of their evaluation of the 2016 technical inspection report by the Commission of University Education,” said Rotich in posts on his social media pages.
Number of universities in Kenya
Meanwhile, should the plans be actualized, Elgeyo Marakwet will be getting its first public university.
As of today, there are 60 universities in Kenya, 30 of which are public and 30 private.
The University of Nairobi is the oldest public university in Kenya while KAG East University is the oldest among private Universities.
