This archive report was first published on 22 December 2019.
Kenya's universities are facing a crisis of credibility, with financial problems, poor quality of learning, and a lack of serious scholarly output being just a few of the many challenges they face.
At the heart of these problems lies a failure of management, which has created a culture of impunity and allowed universities to become insular and devoid of a nationalistic, let alone global, perspective.
One of the key factors contributing to this situation is the composition of university management, which is often dominated by individuals from the local community.
This creates a 'tribal enclave' effect, where universities become isolated and exclusive, with feelings of exclusion and discrimination being felt by those who do not belong to the dominant community.
Universities of repute around the world, on the other hand, actively seek to promote diversity and multiculturalism in their management, faculty, and student communities.
They recognize the importance of creating a welcoming, flexible, and globalized institution that prepares students for the real world, which is a melting pot of cultures and languages.
As the Constitution requires public institutions to observe ethnic diversity, universities must be at the forefront of actualizing this principle.
Except for unskilled jobs, all other positions must be filled competitively, and universities that fail to promote cultural diversity must be forced to do so.
Only by embracing diversity and multiculturalism can Kenya's universities truly reflect the face of the country and provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
