The University of Nairobi has announced austerity measures that include a crackdown on students who cook in hostels in its latest efforts to cut down on expenditure.
Vice-Chancellor Peter Mbithi has directed staff at the university to increase surveillance and regular inspections to stop cooking in students’ hostels.
“Monitor to ensure [there is] no cooking in hostels. Students should be sensitised on the use of facilities,” reads a report tabled before the university’s senate on Thursday.
The university banned students from cooking in hostels in 2016.
METER READING
Prof Mbithi also directed that the joint meter reading be enforced as well as installation of sensor lights, adoption of other alternative sources of energy such as solar, wind or biogas, use of flood lights and energy saving bulbs among others.
The new measures are expected to save the institution Sh12 million annually.
Prof Mbithi also wants joint water meter reading to be enforced while regular inspection of water pipes will be done to check underground leakages, saying this will enable the university save Sh6 million.
He also directed that fuel cards allocations be reduced and discouraged fuel card top ups.
VEHICLE TRACKING
At the same time, vehicle tracking systems will be installed in all new vehicles to ensure better control. The staff at the institution will also be required to vacate leased premises and move to offices at the UoN Tower.
The University is also to cut down on outsourced security services and seek the same from the National Youth Services. Lecturers in Nairobi will not travel to teach in Kisumu and Mombasa campuses. Instead, the university will hire part-time lecturers. There will also be a limit on travelling outside the country as well as consolidation of adverts to minimise costs.
The latest move is an attempt by the university to ensure good financial management in the face of dwindling funding from the exchequer.
UNIVERSITY FUNDING
The Kenyan government has embarked on a new formula of funding higher learning institutions, but universities are not taking it well.
Known as the Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC), the formula involves funding universities based on the courses they offer and is done through the Universities Funding Board.
The formula, which took effect last month, has caused jitters among some universities that are grappling with financial constraints.
University managers are, however, not happy with the formula noting it causes financial burden on the institutions and as a result they are forced to rely on donors to fund their research.
However, government agencies in the education sector have disputed the claims, saying that the new formula offers transparency and fairness in funding.
Commission for University Education chairman Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha said Thursday the university funding DUC is likely to revolutionize the funding dynamics as the implementation takes shape.
“As you are aware, the model took off with the recent intake (May/September) and is picking up well as each university is now able to account for the funding disbursed by the government,” Chacha said in an interview.
He urged all universities to compile new enrolment figures to include bio-data of students, programs they pursue and date of enrolment. This, he said is aimed at updating the numbers from the institutions.
But according to some managers of universities, the new model may be short lived.