Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service (HoPS) Felix Koskei has called for urgent reforms in Kenya’s public universities, urging them to realign with the law, national priorities, and the evolving aspirations of Kenyans.
Speaking during a virtual consultative meeting with chancellors, council chairpersons, and vice-chancellors, Koskei outlined a bold vision to revitalize the country’s higher education sector.
The meeting focused on key issues, including governance, quality of education and research, implementation of the new funding model, and long-term sustainability.
Koskei decried a widespread failure to execute core mandates, citing weak governance structures, lack of succession planning, and a breakdown in the separation of roles between university councils, management teams, and chancellors.
He also raised concerns over frequent conflicts with county governments, underperformance in research and innovation, stagnation in international partnerships, and long-standing weaknesses in infrastructure and project implementation.
“The time for complacency is over. Universities must reclaim their role as engines of transformation — built on integrity, performance, and excellence,” Koskei said. “Political interference and patronage must come to an end.”
He emphasized the need for universities to embrace financial discipline, accountability, and institutional reform. Under the new approach, government support will be strictly performance-based — tied to legal compliance, academic quality, and measurable results.
Koskei further announced the rollout of annual institutional evaluations to assess financial health, academic standards, and innovation. A structured engagement framework will be developed to link his office with the Ministry of Education and all public universities, ensuring closer coordination and regular oversight.
“The quality of graduates must reflect the seriousness of public investment. It is time to match resources with results,” he stated.
Koskei reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting universities — but warned that only those aligned with national goals and delivering value to students and society would continue to receive public support.
