Babu Owino Calls for Student Protests Against University Fee Hikes

Key takeaways

1. 1. Kenya’s education sector is rocked with fresh chaos following implementation of the new university funding model by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
   2. The new model has led to a significant reduction in government subsidies for universities, resulting in higher tuition fees.
   3. The government has redirected the funds to students, categorizing them into different bands based on their financial status.
   4. Thousands of first-year students have lodged complaints about being placed in unfavorable bands making them unable to afford university fees.

Also read: Babu Owino Declares Himself Chief Opposition Leader

Babu Owino speaks out against new university funding model

The new higher education funding system has attracted serious criticism from university students, parents, and a section of the political class.

Babu Owino, known for his days in student leadership has emerged as one of the model’s sharpest critics.

The Embakasi East legislator recently spoke in support of a looming student-led protest dubbed Tisa Tisa, which is set to happen on Monday, September 9th.

Addressing student leaders at a recent event, the former Student Organization of Nairobi University (SONU) chairman urged them to organize nationwide demos against the fee hike.

“To all student leaders here, be fearless, fear nothing. You must organize for serious demonstrations in this country. When diplomacy fails, force must apply. Force is the only language Ruto understands,” said Babu rallying the university student leaders against the funding model.

Babu urged first-year students who have newly joined the institutions to also hit the streets and fight for their rights.

While calling for the funding model to be scrapped, the lawmaker expressed concern over students who still haven’t reported to school due to exorbitant fees.

“85% of Kenyans are living in extreme poverty, increasing university fees through the new funding is completely uncalled for and is destroying the lives of our brothers and sisters in university.”

University students scramble for the coveted ‘Band 1’ placement in the new funding model

The Kenya Kwanza regime has re-engineered government funding of the country’s institution of higher learning.

By introducing the new Higher Education Financing (HEF), the government has significantly withdrawn University Capitation Funds which have subsidized university tuition fees for the past decade.

Led by President Ruto, the government has decided to wire the money to individual learners in a package that includes a scholarship and a loan.

Students have been categorized into the following groups (bands) based on their household income and ability to afford school fees:

1. 1. Band 1 will include students from vulnerable households with incomes of less than KES 5,995. For these, the government is set to pay 70% of the fees as a scholarship and further loan the students 25% of the fees.
   2. Band 2 will include students from extremely needy families with household incomes lower than KES 23,670. Students under this category will receive 60% and 30% of the fees as scholarships and loans respectively.
   3. Band 3 will include students from needy families with household incomes lower than KES 23,670. Students under this category will receive 50% and 30% of the fees as scholarships and loans respectively.
   4. Band 4 will include students from families with household incomes lower than KES 120,000. Students under this category will receive 40% and 30% of the fees as scholarships and loans respectively.
   5. Band 5 will include students from families with household incomes more than KES 120,000. Students under this category will receive 20% and 30% of the fees as scholarships and loans respectively.

This according to the government, is a fair model that would see the equitable distribution of government resources in education.

Its implementation has however attracted huge controversy with more and more students clamoring for the Band 1 classification.

It is emerging that the model has locked out many students from the country’s university slots sparking claims of a war being waged against the poor.

Many have criticized the model as a systematic effort to exclude poorer individuals from educational opportunities, favoring wealthier Kenyans instead.

On Monday, students from Moi University led protests against the increase in school fees, taking to the streets in significant numbers. Soon after, their counterparts from Meru University joined the demonstrations, occupying much of the busy Meru town.

Howafrica

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