Kenya's university lecturers have rejected the proposed Tertiary Education, Placement and Funding Bill, 2026, warning it risks shifting the financial burden of public universities from the government to students and institutions. The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), representing academic staff, called for substantial amendments to the legislation, arguing it fails to distinguish between student and institutional financing. The union’s secretary general, Constantine Wasonga, emphasized that the bill’s current framework could enable public universities to rely on student fees and loans rather than parliamentary funding, undermining educational quality and services.
The UASU’s submissions to the National Assembly committee on Education highlighted concerns that the bill’s lack of clarity on financing mechanisms could erode institutional stability. The proposed legislation, one of six education reform bills, aims to establish the Tertiary Education Funding Authority (TEFA), consolidating functions of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), Universities Fund (UF), and TVET Funding Board. It also seeks to re-establish the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) under the new framework. However, the union warned that the bill’s omission of clear distinctions between student and institutional financing poses risks to higher education quality.
Central to the union’s opposition is the government’s advocacy for the “student-centred university funding model” (SCFM), which UASU argues lacks legal basis. Senior officials and public university vice-chancellors referenced the SCFM in justifying the National Treasury’s refusal to fund 2025-2029 collective bargaining agreements for academic staff. Dr. Wasonga noted that no law or statutory instrument has formally adopted the SCFM as a legal funding mechanism, despite its growing influence in policy discussions.
The lecturers’ nationwide strike, which began on Friday after failed negotiations with the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), underscores their demand for separate and predictable funding for universities. UASU insists that tuition and student support alone cannot cover the full cost of higher education, which includes staff salaries, research, infrastructure, and clinical services. The union argues that linking collective bargaining outcomes to student fee increases would create a cycle of financial pressure on students and institutions alike.
UASU also invoked the constitutional status of university lecturers as public officers, urging lawmakers to ensure their remuneration and benefits remain funded through the Consolidated Fund or parliamentary appropriations. The union warned that relying on student fees, loan repayments, or market-based sources to finance staff salaries could destabilize universities. It called for a distinct statutory funding stream to cover recurrent personnel costs, teaching, research, and public-service obligations, including clinical training provided by university facilities.
The union has demanded a comprehensive fiscal and institutional impact assessment before the bill’s implementation, including projections for student financing and university operational costs. It also seeks transitional provisions to protect existing students, loans, scholarships, and staff rights from adverse effects of the proposed changes. UASU emphasized the need for transparent consultation, published criteria, regulatory safeguards, and parliamentary oversight for any significant funding reforms.
The dispute highlights broader public-interest implications for Kenya’s expanding higher education system, where stable funding is critical to maintaining quality and accessibility. With the government and academic unions at an impasse, the outcome of this debate could shape the future of public university financing and student affordability in the country.
Kenya's University Lecturers Reject Tertiary Education Bill Over Funding Concerns
The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has criticized the proposed Tertiary Education, Placement and Funding Bill, 2026, for failing to distinguish between student and institutional financing, risking a shift of public university costs to students and institutions. The union’s secretary general, Constantine Wasonga, warned that the bill’s lack of clarity could enable universities to rely on student fees and loans rather than parliamentary funding, undermining educational quality and services. UASU’s submissions to the National Assembly committee on Education emphasized the need for substantial amendments to the legislation, which aims to establish the Tertiary Education Funding Authority (TEFA) by consolidating functions of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), Universities Fund (UF), and TVET Funding Board. The proposed bill also seeks to re-establish the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) under the new framework. However, the union warned that the bill’s omission of clear distinctions between student and institutional financing poses risks to higher education quality.
Central to UASU’s opposition is the government’s advocacy for the “student-centred university funding model” (SCFM), which the union argues lacks legal basis. Senior officials and public university vice-chancellors referenced the SCFM in justifying the National Treasury’s refusal to fund 2025-2029 collective bargaining agreements for academic staff. Dr. Wasonga noted that no law or statutory instrument has formally adopted the SCFM as a legal funding mechanism, despite its growing influence in policy discussions. The lecturers’ nationwide strike, which began on Friday after failed negotiations with the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), underscores their demand for separate and predictable funding for universities. UASU insists that tuition and student support alone cannot cover the full cost of higher education, which includes staff salaries, research, infrastructure, and clinical services. The union argues that linking collective bargaining outcomes to student fee increases would create a cycle of financial pressure on students and institutions alike.
UASU also invoked the constitutional status of university lecturers as public officers, urging lawmakers to ensure their remuneration and benefits remain funded through the Consolidated Fund or parliamentary appropriations. The union warned that relying on student fees, loan repayments, or market-based sources to finance staff salaries could destabilize universities. It called for a distinct statutory funding stream to cover recurrent personnel costs, teaching, research, and public-service obligations, including clinical training provided by university facilities. The union has demanded a comprehensive fiscal and institutional impact assessment before the bill’s implementation, including projections for student financing and university operational costs. It also seeks transitional provisions to protect existing students, loans, scholarships, and staff rights from adverse effects of the proposed changes. UASU emphasized the need for transparent consultation, published criteria, regulatory safeguards, and parliamentary oversight for any significant funding reforms.
The dispute highlights broader public-interest implications for Kenya’s expanding higher education system, where stable funding is critical to maintaining quality and accessibility. With the government and academic unions at an impasse, the outcome of this debate could shape the future of public university financing and student affordability in the country.