Kenya’s higher education sector is facing an unprecedented financial crisis that could make tertiary education inaccessible for thousands of students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The alarming situation came to light after Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba revealed that between 20 and 23 public universities are bankrupt.

Ogamba first made the shocking disclosure in November 2024 while addressing the National Working Committee on Review of the New University Education Funding Model.

He warned that several public universities were cash-strapped and unable to meet their financial obligations.

“Currently, 20 or 23 universities in Kenya are insolvent, and we are working on solutions to get them back on track. The case of Moi University is unique, and we are addressing it separately,” Ogamba stated.

The Education Cabinet Secretary reiterated his concerns in March 2025 during a follow-up session with the same committee, where he emphasized the scale of the financial turmoil and the urgent need for intervention.

“Government-sponsored students are the ones who will be affected the most,” Ogamba warned, underlining the risk to thousands of learners who rely on public funding for their education.

During the session, legislators raised concerns about the staggering debts crippling public universities.

Particular focus was placed on the University of Nairobi (UoN) and the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), two of the nation’s largest and most prestigious institutions.

According to official figures, the University of Nairobi is saddled with Ksh13.58 billion in pending bills, including Ksh4 billion in historical arrears.

Meanwhile, the Technical University of Kenya is struggling under the weight of Ksh12.99 billion in debt.

“A pending bill of Ksh12.99 billion doesn’t make sense. Where will the funding come from to repay these debts?” questioned one committee member.

The financial distress extends beyond these two institutions, affecting a significant portion of Kenya’s public university system.

Among the universities on the brink of financial collapse are:

1. University of Nairobi (UoN)
2. Technical University of Kenya (TUK)
3. Moi University
4. Kenyatta University
5. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)
6. Egerton University
7. Maseno University
8. Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST)
9. Pwani University
10. Dedan Kimathi University of Technology

Stakeholders are now calling on the government to take urgent action to address the financial woes threatening the future of public universities.

Without immediate intervention, experts warn that thousands of students could face disruption to their education, exacerbating inequality and curtailing access to higher learning.

Systemic Issues Driving the Crisis

Experts point to systemic underfunding, mismanagement, and reduced government subsidies as key drivers of the financial turmoil.

The introduction of the New University Education Funding Model was intended to ease these challenges by providing targeted support for students, but the crisis suggests deeper structural issues remain unresolved.

“We need a sustainable solution. Band-aid fixes will not resolve the financial chaos that public universities are facing,” said an education policy analyst.

As the government and educational leaders scramble to find solutions, the fate of Kenya’s public universities hangs in the balance, with the lives and futures of thousands of students at stake.