CJ Koome Advocates for Free Education: Calls for Consolidation of Bursaries, Loans, and Scholarships

Chief Justice Martha Koome has called for the consolidation of all educational bursaries, loans, and scholarships into a single fund to make education free for all. Her comments come in response to the new university education funding model that has sparked controversy and concerns about its fairness.

On Wednesday, during the launch of the Strategic Guiding Framework for Greening Kenya’s Justice System and Dissemination of Research Findings, organized by the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), Koome expressed her dissatisfaction with the current funding model. She criticized the system that categorizes students into five bands based on their family’s financial status, with Band 1 receiving the most support and Band 5 receiving the least. Koome argued that this system has led to unjust disparities, where some students from financially challenged backgrounds are unfairly placed in higher bands, leading to higher fees and potentially preventing them from pursuing higher education.

Koome highlighted a particular concern about students who have been erroneously placed in Band 5 when they should be in Band 1, thereby making their education unaffordable. She described her frustration with the current system, stating, “I stopped watching news because of these very depressing items that keep flashing to our faces to remind us how unequal and how unjust we are in a society.” Her remarks underline a broader issue of inequality within the education system, which she believes could be addressed by consolidating the various funding schemes into one comprehensive fund.

Under the existing model, students in Band 1, from households with a monthly income below KSh5,995, receive up to 95% government support, including scholarships and loans, while those in Band 5, with monthly incomes exceeding KSh120,000, receive only 60% government support. The disparity has led to accusations of unfair treatment and misallocation of resources, as some students in affluent families are mistakenly categorized in lower bands, thereby receiving higher levels of support than necessary.

Koome’s proposal aligns with recent calls from members of the National Assembly who have advocated for the merging of all state bursaries, loans, and scholarships into a single fund. Led by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Parliament has expressed support for this idea, arguing that a consolidated fund could potentially make university education free for all students. MPs have emphasized that the current fragmented approach, which includes bursaries from governors, women representatives, MPs, and various private providers, creates inefficiencies and perpetuates inequality.

In response to concerns about incorrect band placements, State Department for Higher Education and Research PS Beatrice Inyangala acknowledged the issues and assured that there is a process for students to appeal their banding results. Students are advised to verify their loan and scholarship awards through the Higher Education Fund portal and to use designated university desks for rectifying any errors.

Speaker Wetang’ula has directed the PS to develop a policy proposal that would facilitate the consolidation of these funds into a single entity. He highlighted the multiplicity of sources currently providing financial aid, including MCAs, Woman Representatives, MPs, HELB, and private entities, suggesting that merging these resources could streamline the process and enhance fairness.

The call for free education through the consolidation of funding sources represents a significant shift in policy perspective, aiming to address longstanding issues of inequality in access to higher education. If implemented, this approach could reshape the educational landscape in Kenya, making it more equitable and accessible for all students, regardless of their financial background.