Nairobi — Kenya is set to have 13 more public universities, President Kibaki announced on Friday. This will increase the number of public universities to 20, resulting in a huge rise in the number of students being admitted for degree courses.

Speaking at the Masinde Muliro University's graduation ceremony, President Kibaki said: "So far, the government has upgraded 13 institutions into university colleges. It is planned that these will become full national public universities by 2012. More universities are being established to ensure that an estimated 450,000 students access university education by 2015."

The ceremony saw 715 students being awarded certificates, diplomas and Masters degrees. Renowned athlete Tegla Lorupe was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in recognition of her efforts to bring peace to warring communities through sports.

The President praised Ms Lorupe and urged her to continue encouraging youths to live more productive lives.

Urban slums

President Kibaki warned, however, that though expansion was good for the thousands who fail to get varsity places, quality should never be compromised. "We must appreciate that improved access to universities can only bear results if the quality of education is not compromised. It is the duty of all those running our public and private universities to ensure quality education," he said.

He said more admissions alone was not enough as most of those qualifying still needed to raise fees. "Poverty has had an enormous impact on tertiary education. The situation is more acute among communities in the arid and semi-arid districts, urban slums and rural areas where a significant number cannot afford the cost of tertiary education," he said. Reacting to a plea by Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi on the ailing Pan African Paper Mills at Webuye, the President said the firm's revival is high on the government's agenda. Speaking during the occasion, Higher Education minister Sally Kosgey said funding for higher education was a challenge for the government.

She said despite asking for more funding this financial year, Treasury had allocated the same amount as in the previous year. She said though the country could solve its energy crisis by adopting nuclear technology, there was no manpower in the sector. "Although we have started negotiations on nuclear energy, we do not have a single PHD holder in nuclear science," she said.