President William Ruto has invited students from Nairobi’s universities to a Townhall meeting to discuss the controversial University Funding Model that has led to planned protests starting next week.
The meeting, called the Presidential Townhall, is scheduled to take place tonight, Sunday, August 25, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
It will begin at 7 p.m. and aims to address the issues and questions related to the new Higher Education Funding Model.
This decision follows recent unrest at the University of Nairobi, where a student leader was abducted after announcing plans for student protests next month.
The protests were sparked by concerns over the new funding model, which many students feel has placed an unfair financial burden on them.
In response, University of Nairobi students blocked roads in Nairobi’s Central Business District, demanding the release of their leader and the abolition of the new funding model.
President Ruto intends to use this Townhall meeting to clarify the government’s goals and address any misunderstandings about the funding model.
The meeting will also provide students with a chance to express their concerns directly to the President and receive detailed information about the government’s plans.
Education stakeholders have raised concerns that the new funding model will increase financial pressure on middle-income families and lead to higher student debt.
This has caused anxiety among both parents and higher education institutions.
There is also speculation that the government may release the abducted University of Nairobi student leader before the Townhall meeting, in an effort to address concerns about abductions and ensure a constructive dialogue during the event.
