The government has said it will provide a grant of Sh100 million to Uzima University to support students’ training programmes in the institution.

President William Ruto said the university has demonstrated its role to train healthcare personnel, insisting that the requirement of highly trained medical personnel is necessary at a time when the country is pursuing Universal Health Care (UHC).

Ruto made the remarks yesterday when he awarded a charter to Uzima University, the only institution of higher learning wholly devoted to health sciences, which he said are more difficult and expensive to train, yet have life changing experiences in the society.

 “The Government will provide a grant of Sh100 million to Uzima University to further training of the much-needed health personnel in the country. Let this institution continue nurturing healthcare professionals who serve with both competence and conscience, especially in underserved,” Ruto said, during the event held at State House Nairobi.

He said the university’s collaboration with Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital and six counties, including Kisumu, Vihiga, Siaya, Homa Bay, Bungoma, and Kakamega has enhanced clinical placements, providing students with practical, high-quality and locally relevant training.

Uzima provides a range of programmes, including medicine, clinical medicine, nursing, microbiology, and health systems management, which the President said reflects the institution’s dedication to health sciences and national needs.

“The award of this charter aligns with our long-term goal of expanding access to quality university education. As a government, we recognise that our aspirations for inclusive development and equitable wealth creation are anchored in a strong education sector, which is essential for developing the required human capital and fostering research and innovation,” he said.

He added, “If we are to change our destiny, we have to make decisions that will change the course of our nation. They may not be popular or simple but these are the right decisions. It is up to us to either make politically correct, simple and convenient decisions or the right decisions that will change the destiny of our country and this will make the difference.”

At the same time, the President insisted that the Government has in the last two-and-a-half years implemented a student-centred higher education funding model to ensure every learner, regardless of their background, gender, or economic status, has a fair opportunity to pursue academic ambitions.

He said the model, as difficult a decision as it has been, has made it possible for universities to continue operating and not crumble under huge debts

In the current financial year 2024/2025, he said the Higher Education Loans Board received over 700,000 applications from university and TVET learners.

By March 31 this year, Ruto said the Board had disbursed Sh34 billion in tuition and upkeep loans, directly benefiting over 400,000 university students and 227,000 TVET trainees nationwide.

The total financial support awarded so far stands at Sh47.26 billion, he added.

“I want to assure all learners, parents, and institutions that the government remains fully committed to ensuring complete disbursement of funds within the current financial year,” he said.

Despite challenges that the model has faced, including court cases, Ruto affirmed that it has resolved the longstanding challenge of chronic underfunding that had pushed many public universities to the brink of bankruptcy.

Uzima University now becomes the 30th accredited private university in Kenya. Out of the 80 universities in the country, 36 are private and absorb thousands of students annually.

Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Ogamba said the Government envisions an ecosystem where both public and private universities thrive and complement one another in addition to meaningful contribution to the national development.

“Award of charters is part of a broader reform agenda aimed at building a differentiated and globally competitive university education system. The government has prioritized alignment of higher education with economic access through several interventions mainly outlined in the Presidential working party on education reforms,” the CS said.