Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse has pledged to move a motion in parliament to push the Government to increase funds allocated to institutions of higher learning.
Mutuse spoke about this after meeting university students drawn from Makueni county at Wote town.
The vibrant politician noted that the cost of educating a child is high and most families are struggling.
“We will have to discuss this and ensure there are amendments that will cause more funding to the higher institutions. There are parents struggling to educate their children and some have dropped out,” said Mutuse.
Kenya’s public universities are facing serious financial challenges with a report by the Ministry of Education released in November revealing that they are indebted to the tune of 56 billion and have insufficient funds to run their operations.
The first-term MP also hailed President William Ruto for his affordable housing project and called for it to be expanded to universities.
According to him, this can be done by allowing investors to build affordable houses at the university and rent them to the students.
“On my part as an MP, among others, I have undertaken to pursue changes in law and policies to address the affordability of higher education, access to ICT facilities as well as affordable housing for hostels so that students don’t sleep in slums,” noted the lawmaker.
Mutuse also called upon university students to be active in governance by being involved in local and national politics.
He promised to launch an online bursary application for college and university students allowing them to apply in the comfort of their universities.
“To those in high schools, we will bring you bursaries at the polling station level. We will wait down with the parents and discuss who deserves it most,” Mutuse added.
