The struggling Kenya Methodist University (KEMU) has used the cover of Covid-19 pandemic to triple university tuition fees for its students.
In documents seen by nyakundireport.com, school fees paid by new students and continuing was Sh27,500 students and Sh20,500 respectively.
That now has been increased to Sh61,000 and Sh54,000 for new students and continuing students respectively.
This has caused so much for parents, guardians and students.
"KEMU admin didn't consult student leaders, students, parents, stakeholders, guardians on the fee changes. Most of the students have been challenges to clear their previous fees, and this will be totally not good to them. Totally unfair, Injustice yet when they were joining they knew the fee was affordable but now this will encourage drop out from school", a student told nyakundireport.com
This blog observes that KEMU was struggling prior to Covid-19 pandemic and increasing fees is an attempt to try to stay afloat.
READ: Kenya Methodist University Financial Woes Continues As Meru Campus Students Decry Substandard Lectures The University started showing financial strain in early 2010s. By 2018, the university was reportedly planning to sell its Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) building – KEMU Hub.
The institution retrenched some staff, auctioneers took several vehicles and the university management was forced to close three campuses – in Kisii, Nyeri and Nakuru.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Henry Kiriamiti, at that time (2017), wrote in the letter to students and staff, that KEMU is undertaking a “restructuring process to enhance its effectiveness and competitiveness.”
By increasing fees to this much, the ma engagement, therefore, wants to run a ransom racket on the students and parents in the middle of a pandemic. Here are some of the documents KEMU Management: Memo of harmonized fee structure for KUCCPS students KEMU old fee structure for KUCCPS students KEMU new fee structure for KUCCPS students KEMU Student association response to management