Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei used a scattered argument to defend the gnarly university funding model, which is projected to hurt more Kenyans as fees increase.
The Variable Scholarship and Loan Funding, launched in 2023, was designed to prioritize financial aid for the most vulnerable students while ensuring a fair distribution of resources.
Those classified under Band 1 qualify for up to 70% government scholarships, while students in Bands 4 and 5 receive 40% and 20%, respectively.
Students have however complained that they have been placed in the wrong bands and cannot afford to clear their varsity fees.
Speaking to Citizen TV on Monday, Senator Sigei attempted to defend the State, noting that it is creating solutions to tame the wrong band classification.
However remaining dodgy, Sigei admitted that the model is flawed, forcing Kenyans to opt for fundraising to raise the fees money.
“These challenges that we experience in the banding model and release of funds spills over to having MPs fundraising every weekend,” Sigei said.
“What the government is doing is trying to change the funding model…you know we don’t sit back and say that government is in place…in an environment where I will always know my area MP will sort everything, we will forever have challenges. This model has challenges but I am hopeful.”
In Kenya, a well-off household is recognized when a parent is making above Ksh.120,000 a month, which is still not sufficient to finance a university programme for many students.
Senator Sigei said that the government’s model will prioritize “genuinely deserving students” and place then in band one, but failed to explain how the wrong banding will be addressed.
“It is never possible for the government to provide for everything. Banding is based on household income, trying to fix the challenge of capitation,” Sigei noted.
“Therefore the solution is part of this introduction of the model is seeking to resolve the challenges not to use the term of somebody capable of paying the cost for a medical course, but each to contribute towards funding our educational model.”
The model was launched by President William Ruto in May 2023, which has failed to accurately categorize students into different bands based on a means-testing instrument.
It delinks student placement with funding, thus requiring students to submit applications to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Universities Fund (UF) for loans and scholarships, respectively.
Uproar against the model has been witnessed among students, parents, and education stakeholders.
University students had threatened to strike, saying the model is disadvantageous and is likely to lock many out from acquiring higher education.
Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba has assured students set to join institutions of higher learning in September this year that a new funding model will be in place by then.
He has also assured learners that the government capitation of Ksh.14 billion will be released to address funding in public institutions.
He told parent that students would not be sent home for fees since the ministry had already engaged school heads to allow learners to continue with their studies uninterrupted until the capitation is released.
