The proposed change sought to ensure that government-sponsored students were placed in public universities and colleges unlike the current system of university placement where government-sponsored students are placed in private universities and colleges.

 The government has withdrawn a contentious amendment proposal embedded within the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Bill, 2023 that would have otherwise had an impact on Kenya’s higher education sector.

The amendment, which aimed to amend section 56(1)(a) of the Universities Act, 2012, generated considerable debate and scrutiny within the legislative and educational spheres.

The proposed change sought to ensure that government-sponsored students were placed in public universities and colleges unlike the current system of university placement where government-sponsored students are placed in private universities and colleges.

This has limited access to university education by students from poor family backgrounds who are mostly government-sponsored students.

The arrangement was also intended to provide greater opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds and alleviate the strain on public universities grappling with funding shortages.

However, upon closer examination, concerns emerged regarding the unintended consequences of the proposed amendment.

It became apparent that the amendment would still mandate the Placement Board to place government-sponsored students in private universities and colleges.

Additionally, the amendment would also see privately sponsored students being placed in public universities and colleges which ideally should be for government-sponsored students.

This unexpected outcome raised alarms that the proposed amendment would further inhibit government-sponsored student enrollment in public universities and colleges. 

Furthermore, there were apprehensions that the proposed amendment could undermine the government’s broader objectives of promoting equitable access to university education, particularly for vulnerable and needy students.

Critics argued that such a blanket policy could exacerbate disparities and hinder efforts to foster inclusivity within the higher education landscape.

In response to these concerns, the Majority Leader of the National Assembly Kimani Ichungw’ah, in consultation with the Ministry of Education, decided to withdraw the proposed amendment to allow for consultations.

“The move reflects a commitment to undertake a more comprehensive review of the Universities Act, of 2012, to ensure that any legislative changes align with the government’s overarching policies and objectives in the education sector,” Ichungw’ah said.

To this end, the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula acceded to the request by Ichungw’ah to withdraw the proposed amendments to the University Act of 2012.

“I wish to notify the House that I have received a request from the majority leader seeking my consent for the withdrawal of the proposed amendment as contained in the Bill,” Speaker Wetangula said.

The Speaker added, “I have acceded to the request by the leader of the majority to withdraw the provision as contained in the Bill.” Capital News

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, will embark on official visits to Samoa and the Kingdom of Tonga from 25 March 2024. 

In both countries, she will hold discussions with Heads of Government, cabinet ministers and other public figures on issues of importance to the Commonwealth and the Pacific region, including Commonwealth assistance and cooperation. 

The Secretary-General will arrive in Samoa on 25 March 2024, where she will meet with Prime Minister Hon Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa to discuss the preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled for this October in Apia. 

From 30 March to 3 April 2024, the Secretary-General will be in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, for her first official visit. 

She will meet with Prime Minister Hon Siaosi Hu'akavameiliku, Deputy Prime Minister Hon Samiu Vaipulu, Foreign Affairs Minister Hon Fekitamoeloa ʻUtoikamanu and other cabinet ministers. 

She will particularly seek their perspectives on the CHOGM agenda as part of consultations with member countries ahead of the biennial meeting. 

Whilst in Tonga, the Secretary-General will visit communities affected by the 2022 Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai Volcano eruption and learn about the impact of the disaster on their lives and livelihoods. 

Much-valued members 

Ahead of her visit, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said: 

"Samoa and Tonga are wonderful countries with strong cultural links, and I am so happy to be returning to the Pacific. 

"Both countries are central to our Commonwealth family and embody the values and commitments we share, with their governments and people actively contributing to the partnerships which make the modern Commonwealth so strong and dynamic. 

"The beauty, heritage, and diversity of the Pacific are a blessing to the world. I look forward to working closely with the Commonwealth's members in the region to confront shared challenges, seize shared opportunities, and support their goals to deliver a resilient common future for all." 

Samoa will be the first small island state from the Pacific to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. 

Discussions at the meeting will focus on global political, economic, and environmental developments as well as the work undertaken by the Commonwealth since the last summit in Rwanda almost two years ago. 

The Secretary-General expressed her gratitude to the Government and people of Samoa for their warm hospitality and thorough preparations for the meeting. 

A critical CHOGM 

"Our Head of Government Meeting in Samoa comes at a seminal moment, especially as the impacts of the climate crisis become more intense, more frequent, and more devastating," she said. "In the Pacific, people see and feel these impacts, living with them every day, despite the region bearing the least responsibility for causing the problem." 

"And yet," the Secretary-General continued passionately, "The Pacific's united and powerful advocacy for climate action continues to inspire me, the Commonwealth, and the wider world. As far back as the 1980s, the Commonwealth has stood shoulder to shoulder with the Pacific in partnership and solidarity, raising the alarm on this existential threat of environmental breakdown and calling for decisive global action." 

"Samoa's hosting of CHOGM – the first in a Pacific Small Island State - symbolises our commitment to amplifying the voices of the most affected," she added. "The decisions leaders will make together at this meeting will have a profound impact on the well-being of our people and the planet." 

During her engagements in both countries, the Secretary-General will also update leaders and ministers about an array of Commonwealth programmes designed to help member countries strengthen democratic institutions, build resilient economies, and protect the environment. 

Particularly on the environmental front, she will highlight the Commonwealth's coordinated response to unlocking funding for climate action through the Climate Finance Access Hub, ocean challenges through the Blue Charter, land degradation issues through the Living Lands Charter and a just energy transition through Sustainable Energy Transition Agenda.  

The Secretary-General's schedule also includes engagements with young people, women's rights groups, and civil society representatives.