Kenya’s Public Universities Drown in Ksh100B Debt, MPs Demand Answers
Education Updated: 19 March 2026 10:50 EAT
Education Committee Raises Alarm Over Ballooning University Debt, Stalled Projects in Supplementary Budget
Public universities in Kenya are facing a deepening financial crisis as liabilities tied to pending bills have climbed above Ksh 100 billion, sparking alarm among Members of Parliament who are demanding urgent explanations.
The State Department for Higher Education revealed the figures during a session with Parliament’s Education Committee, highlighting the magnitude of the sector’s financial strain.
Principal Secretary Dr Beatrice Inyangala told lawmakers that rising debts are placing “unsustainable pressure” on public universities, threatening their ability to deliver core academic services.
Among the institutions carrying the largest share of unpaid bills are Egerton University at about Ksh 25.5 billion, the University of Nairobi with roughly Ksh 17 billion, Kenyatta University at Ksh 12.8 billion, and Moi University with around Ksh 10.4 billion in outstanding liabilities.
MPs challenged the ministry on inconsistencies in reported debt figures, noting discrepancies between the amounts presented and what university management teams have reported.
Education Committee chair Julius Melly criticised the lack of clarity, saying Parliament could not provide proper oversight without accurate, credible data.
Lawmakers also expressed frustration over stalled development projects in several universities, even as resources continue to be allocated to other new or incomplete projects.
“This pattern of resource allocation demands scrutiny,” one MP said, questioning why funds were being directed toward unfinished projects while basic operational costs go unmet.
The ministry has asked Parliament to approve a Ksh 14.36 billion supplementary budget to sustain university operations through the current financial year.
A significant chunk of the funding gap is tied to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), grappling with a budget shortfall of about Ksh 43.6 billion across the current and upcoming financial years.
Officials told lawmakers that unresolved funding for HELB, scholarship commitments, and unfunded lecturers’ collective bargaining arrears — estimated at nearly Ksh 4 billion — have compounded liquidity constraints for universities.
MPs have warned that without timely intervention and improved accountability, the debt burden could continue to rise, ultimately affecting students’ access to loans, quality of services, and long-term viability of the institutions.
The Education Committee said it will continue to scrutinise the figures and is expected to influence budget priorities in the coming days as part of its constitutional oversight mandate.
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FELIX MAKONA
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