Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof George Magoha addressed a statement that his Principal Secretary, Simon Nakubwesi made before a Parliamentary Committee where he told the committee that he does not support the plan of placing students in private universities.
“I am believing that my PS was misquoted on this. Maybe he was speaking for himself because I am the one in charge of the ministry. I am not aware of those plans,” said Magoha.
According to the CS, no one else but the president can overrule the decision.
When the PS appeared before the Public Accounts Committee, he said that the Ministry of Education was not in support of the placement of students to private universities.
In his argument, PS Simon Nabukwesi argued that the money allocated to private universities should be given to public institutions that have been underfunded.
It has been reported that private universities have received Sh. 9 billion since 2016 when the programme was started.
In a swift response to the statement, CS Magoha said that placement of students to private universities is also supported in the Constitution and added that changing such a decision requires the involvement of stakeholders.
According to the Kenyan Constitution Section 56 (1) (a) of the Universities Act, the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) is mandated to coordinate the placement of the government-sponsored students to universities and colleges.
The CS argued that it is fifty per cent cheaper to admit students to private universities.
“It is fifty per cent cheaper to admit students to private universities. Besides, they have the same quality of facilities,” said CS Magoha.
In 2015 President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed KUCCPS to place government-sponsored students in private universities. Since then, the head of state has not issued any directive to necessitate any changes.