Mount Kenya University chairman prof Simon Gicharu has waived university fees worth KSh 82 million for graduates who completed their studies but had not cleared fees.
Speaking during the 25th graduation ceremony for the university, which was held in Thika, Gicharu said that he feared being ”greeted ” by the graduates’ children in the future for locking in the dreams of their parents.
“At a time that the Gen Zs are greeting people, I want to say that I have unconditionally waived the fees balance for those who completed their studies but were unable to complete their fees. I do not want to be greeted in the future by their children on accusations that I locked up the dreams and aspirations of their parents, by denying them their academic certificates,“ said Gicharu.
The goodwill was also extended to students from Mount Kigali University in Rwanda, which is now a sister university to Mount Kenya University, after gaining autonomy last year.
Gicharu however, said that if those whose fees were waived strike luck in the future, they can still clear the balance of the fees, but the money will be channeled to the university’s scholarship fund, to assist the needy students who may have challenges meeting their fee obligations.
Fee payment in public and private universities has been a big issue, with the government intending to revise fees for public universities following an outcry by students about high, unaffordable fees, which has made many students who are qualified for university education fail to take up the placements.