University students across the country are staring at tough times ahead after a major announcement by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.
Speaking on Thursday, July 24, before the National Assembly’s Committee on Education, CS Mbadi revealed that the government is preparing to shut down several university campuses and slash funding for higher education institutions due to a worsening financial crisis.
In his statement, Mbadi warned that the budget shortfall affecting public universities may also force the government to lay off a large number of staff in affected institutions. He explained that maintaining underutilized campuses is no longer sustainable, and the move to shut them down is part of a broader cost-cutting strategy.
Additionally, the Cabinet Secretary disclosed that the government plans to begin outsourcing several non-core services in financially struggling universities.
These services may include maintenance, security, cleaning, and other support roles—measures aimed at easing the financial pressure on institutions without compromising their academic functions.
Mbadi assured MPs that the restructuring process will be handled with caution, but he admitted that tough decisions must be made to save the crumbling university system. He said some institutions are running on huge deficits, and without urgent intervention, they may collapse entirely.
The announcement has sparked concern among students, university staff, and education stakeholders, who now fear that the changes could lead to disruptions in learning, loss of jobs, and reduced access to quality education.
Many students worry they may be forced to transfer to other campuses or even drop out if their learning centers are closed.
This development follows months of warnings from education experts and university leaders, who have been urging the government to increase funding for public universities and implement reforms to ensure sustainability.
However, the latest declaration indicates that the government is instead moving toward downsizing the sector in response to the financial constraints.
The coming days are expected to be critical as the Ministry of Education, Treasury, and university councils meet to identify which campuses will be shut down and how to handle the transition for both staff and students.
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