Kenyan students have been on the streets to protest a new funding model for higher education that they claim limits access to education
Kenya's streets have once again been caught up in what is turning out to be a year of protests, but this time, it's the students leading the charge. University students from across the country, including those from the University of Nairobi, Moi University, and Kenyatta University, took to the streets to protest the government's newly introduced higher education funding model.
Last week, outraged students from Machakos University blocked a section of Machakos Road, sending a clear message to the government that they reject the new model. Tensions are rising as students argue that the model, which categorizes learners based on family income, includes unfair distribution criteria. This has led to 10,000 students appealing after being placed in categories where they cannot afford the cost of university education.
One of the key issues is misclassification. Many students report being placed in the wrong income bands, sparking outrage. "Imagine coming from a household that barely gets by, only to be told you qualify for less assistance because of some technical error!" a student said during the protests.
While the government has framed this new model as a progressive reform aimed at widening access, it has faced widespread criticism and resistance. Students voiced their concerns at the start of their demonstrations two weeks ago that the model will make higher education even more inaccessible, starting with those enrolling in the 2024-2025 academic year.
During the protests, students raised fundamental questions, one student asking, "How can you claim to make education more accessible when you're categorizing us like this?" They pointed out that many students can't even afford basic necessities, let alone worry about repaying massive loans.
Under the new funding scheme, students are divided into five income brackets. The poorest, in Band 1, are promised the most help--70% scholarships, 25% loans, and an additional maintenance loan. But students in higher bands face dwindling support, with more reliance on family contributions, and increasing debt burdens.
Previously, universities and TVET institutions received block funding, a lump sum allocation intended to cover various institutional needs, operating as a form of cost-sharing with parents. Cost-sharing, a neoliberal policy, was introduced as part of Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in the 1980s. These SAPs were implemented in Kenya and instead increased poverty levels and triggered economic recession. That led to reduced government spending on education.
Neoliberal policies have failed to address the crisis of education globally. Successive governments in Kenya have embraced neoliberal reforms for higher education under the guise of increasing efficiency, competition, and public accountability, supposedly aiming to improve the education system. These policies, however, continue to have adverse effects, particularly within the university system, that are operated within market-driven models.
The education crisis is evident in the growing difficulty that students from low-income families face in accessing quality education. Although the Constitution guarantees free and compulsory basic education, financial barriers continue to impede many students' ability to advance from secondary school to university. For example, as reported by Kippra in May 2022/23, of the 862,782 candidates who sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), approximately 563,000 students were unable to enroll in universities. Only 173,127 students, who achieved the minimum entry grade of C+ and above, were able to gain direct entry into university, leaving a significant number of Kenyan students without access to higher education.
While the Constitution mandates free and compulsory basic education, financial barriers remain a major hurdle for many and the new model is definitely not the solution. For many, the model is a cruel continuation of failed policies. "This isn't just about funding," says a representative from the National Student Caucus. "This is about the systemic inequality that's only getting worse. They're pushing us out of education, and we won't stand for it."
The National Student Caucus has responded with a powerful campaign, "Fee Must Fall." At its core, the movement demands free education and the establishment of a National Education Fund. The proposed fund would provide long-term stability, ensuring that students from all backgrounds have equitable access to education.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
"This is the future we are fighting for a government that ensures education is not a privilege but a right for every Kenyan," said one student speaker at the recent Fee Must Fall summit.
As the protests continue, students have a clear demand, they don't support the new model. With their futures on the line, they are calling for a complete change of the education system, demanding free and accessible education for all. Ultimately, neoliberalism's emphasis on competition and market-driven solutions has not provided the answers to Kenya's education crisis, in fact, it has deepened it. It is the reliance on privatization in universities, along with the failure to provide adequate support for students from low-income backgrounds, that has led to increased inequality and reduced access to quality education. The new funding model follows the same path, and students are likely to continue resisting it in the coming weeks as already the University of Nairobi Student Association (UNSA) has announced a 14-day strike notice in protest of the government's decision to form committees tasked with reviewing educational loans under a newly proposed scheme.
Nicholas Mwangi is a member of the Ukombozi Library in Kenya.
