Naema Celestine 
BY THOMAS MAUKO
A document tabled before the national assembly committee on education reveals that University of Nairobi accounts for the lions share of debt summing up to 18 billion.
This is followed by Technical University of Kenya owing 10.3 billion, Egerton university coming third at 10.3 billion, Kenyatta and JKUAT at 8.8 billion.
‘Already 23 out of 40 universities are declared technically insolvent’ said the higher education permanent secretary.
Stems from defaulted pension pays, insurance premiums, statutory deductions, unpaid supplier bills, remitted employee deductions and outstanding part-time lecturer payments have further compounded the university severe financial distress.
However, the situation for the institution is set to worsen as the government proposes to reduce funding for government sponsored students in pubic universities posing an even greater threat to their future viability.
Moi university, University of Nairobi, Egerton and Kabianga will not receive any funding for continuing students, dealing a devastating blow to their already precarious financial status.
Crippled by animus debt burdens and looming funding reductions, public university capacity to deliver high quality and sustain their operations stand gravely threatened.
