Task : discuss the ways in which universities in Kenya have responded to the shrinking financial allocations from the government and critically evaluate their implications on the ability of the ability of these institutions to execute their core mandate

INTRODUCTION
In the past two financial years, Kenyan universities have experienced an unprecedented reduction in government funding which has dramaticallyaffected the operations of public universities. The universities are hardly meeting their financial obligations such as the submission of statutory deductions to various agencies. They are also unable to pay private university lectures and other university staff throwing the institutions into disarray (Ouma, 2018). The big universities such as Kenyatta University and the University of Nairobi, have been hard hit because they have mounted expensive educational programs which require a huge workforce and this has much been affected by the reduction in funding (Augustine, 2018). This has affected universities capability to provide quality education, leaving employers crying of sub-standard university graduates. The then education cabinet secretary, Fred Matiang’i, admitted that the universities were not well funded, and this prompted the institutions to look for ways to raise more funds.Most universities are now directing their efforts to raise funds rather than mobilizing their resources in improving the quality of education offered. This paper focuses on how the low government funding has drastically affected universities, informed by the ways the institutions are adopting to raise more funds, and the implication of their actions in meeting their objectives
WAYS TO RESPOND TO THE LOW FINANCIAL ALLOCATIONS
Setting up of income generating activities
Universities are coming up with income generating activities set up within and outside the universities in order to raise more funds for the running of the institutions. These activities are essentially run to help meet operations such as the payment of private lecture and running other academic programs (Augustine, 2018). This has been exemplified by Kenyatta University which has set up the Unicity mall comprising of different activities which are currently operational. Moreover, the advertisement of this facility has been witnessed in national televisions in order to get willing investors who are ready to start and run businesses within the premises. The business facilities have enabled the universities to facilitate the operation of its projects which had been derailed by the low government funding
Retrenchment
The universities have laid off most of its workers in order to reduce the number of funds that were directed to servicing salaries. This has happened alongside the fusing of different departments to facilitate the reduction of workers. Initially, universities had been known for employing a large number of people, but currently, this is not the case, as unions for university workers are now engaging in strikes in order to combat the call by the university administrations’ to lay off workers (Wanzala, 2017). This has adversely affected smaller universities which mainly depend on government funding. They have continued to experience an increase in the students’ enrolment yet the amount allocated to these institutions has remained the same over the past few years. the increased numbers have caused the institutions to lay off workers to direct the funds to build more facilities that can accommodate the students
Increase in tuition fees
Most universities have increased their tuition fees from what was initially paid. The increment has normally been effected during the admission of the first years. Although there have been calls from parents and the university’s student leaders to have the amount reduced, they have been left with no option as that has been the only means to raise funds for provision of services for the well-being of the students. This has affected students from poor backgrounds making most of them to cancel their university education and focus on other means of raising money for their families.
Adjusting programs to accommodate the working class
Universities are now introducing weekend and evening classes to accommodate individuals willing to learn, but cannot do so during the normal learning hours because they are employed. They have been able to raise money from this category of students because they are to pay. Moreover, these students spend more money yet they utilize minimal resources (Wanzala, 2017). This has helped them secure more resources for the running of regular programs. Moreover, most of them are engaged in fraudulent ways such as reducing the number of hours that are needed for one to be awarded a degree in order to make those schooling part time finish school in the within a short period
Development of e-learning programs
Universities are now capitalizing of distance learning programs which raise more money with minimal use of students. Unlike teaching the regular students where a given minimum number must be maintained within the classes, which has seen more lectures being employed. Through eLearning, a lecturer can attend to a large number of students who donot need to physically present in the institutions (Tarus, Gichoya & Muumbo, 2015). This has led to a reduction in pressure in the already limited resources. Furthermore, the amount of tuitions fees paid by the eLearning students is comparatively higher, and this has made the institutions to direct more funds for this course. The program has enabled the universities to have students from outside the country thus being able to raise more money from the program

Setting up branches in major towns
Major universities in the country have branches in nearly all the major towns, and this has enabled them to take advantage of students within these areas. They have also been able to raise more funds as there are those students who prefer universities that are near to their locations. Although the universities do not meet the required standards, it’s one of the fraudulent means that the institutions are using to raise money (Tarus, Gichoya & Muumbo, 2015). The former cabinet secretary, Fred Matiang’i, alleged that universities are setting satellite campuses yet they do not have resources to complement the operations in the campuses
Development of cheap academic programs
Although there has been the growing need to have the diploma and certificate programs are taken out of the universities. The number of students qualifying for the degrees programs has drastically dropped in the past two years, and universities are compensating this by offering certificate and degree programs (McCowan, 2016). Moreover, most parents are capable of sponsoring students for diploma and certificate programs because they are relatively cheaper as compared to one enrolling for a degree course. They are increasingly accepting applications from these students in order to compensate for the reduction in government funding. This has resulted in some universities providing courses that are not accredited in order to have more applications. These programs are in line with the country’s development agenda
Suspending some semesters activities
Most universities have reduced some program we were conducted during the semesters in order to cut down the cost incurred. Although the activities were not linked in education they played a significant role in enhancing the shaping of students into useful members of the society (Tarus, Gichoya & Muumbo, 2015). Most of these programs helped in making students interact and nurture their talents. For instance, some universities are doing away with culture an important activity in the school calendars. This event helped students interact and learn to appreciate each other’s culture and learn how they can peacefully co-exist. Such events cost a lot of money and universities managements removing the events to save on resources and money
Enrolling students who do not meet the minimum requirement
In Kenya, the minimum required grade for admission into public universities is a C-plus. According to CUE, most universities are currently admitting students who did not attain a C-plus. The Commissionfor University Education further revealed that some universities admit students with credits and distinctions in diploma courses in order to net more students (Muriithi, Horner, Pemberton & Wao, 2018). Similarly, other admits foreign students based on diploma papers not equated to Kenya National Examination Council. Enrolling underqualified students into degree programs has also been among the major contributor to graduates who are not well qualified to carry out their jobs in the job market
THE IMPLICATIONS OFTHE LOWFINANCIAL ALLOCATIONS
Delayed payment of worker’s salaries
The reduction in universities funding by the government has led to most of the institutions not to pay their workers on time. These have been caused by not only the reduced government funding but has also been due to delayed release of money (Otieno, 2015). This has resulted in universities workers to engage in industrial actions which have adversely affected the learning process in the institutions. The strikes organized by the workers have left students affected because most of them have not been able to finish school in time. Again, some of them have been forced to call off due to lack of funds to sustain them in school as the strikes usually result in extending the semester duration
Reduction in the quality of education offered in the universities
The low funding has prompted the universities to hire under-qualified staff and do away with essential learning programs. As universities abandon, certain programs such as the institutions have ended up providing graduates that most employers complain that are half baked ( Wanzala, 2017). Employment under qualified staff has resulted in the lack of accomplishment of the learning objectives (Muriithi, Horner, Pemberton & Wao, 2018). Most universities are now aiming at ways they can increase their finances, and this has increased the number of students in class especially for those taking arts subjects which have led to low-quality education in public universities. This has not only been the case with degree programs, but the CUE also canceled five doctoral degrees awarded by Kisii University, and itis alleged that the degrees were awarded yet the students had only been in class for six months (Muriithi, Horner, Pemberton & Wao, 2018). Furthermore, the branches established by the universities do not have enough staff and those employed are not well qualified without access to innovative technology. The universities are also directing to non-academicprograms such as advertising their income generating activities at the expense learning activities
The closing of the satellite campuses
Most universities had opened branches in major cities and towns both within and outside the country. The opening of these branches was to some extent facilitated by the funding form the government. The reduction in financial allocations meant that the university could no longer run the branches and this led to most of the branches being shut down (Wanjiku, 2016). Most of these branches had returns that were lower than the number of resources that were dedicated in their operation. To cater for the low returns, they open themin poor facilities, with unqualified staff. Moreover, the do not have access to innovative technology and as such there instructions do not go beyond the traditional method. This has made the commission in charge the public universities to close most of the branches because they do not meet the required standards
Inability to offer certain degree programs
This is particularly evident with science courses which require a lot of facilities. Most universities are concentrating on offering art courses due to lack of enough resources to facilitate the running of the programs (Wanjiku, 2016). This exemplified by small universities such as Kibabii University which have got more art degree programs as compared the science ones. Established universities have been able to so because they have the required facilities, and they collaborate with other well established overseas universities which have helped them run the programs
Reduction in worker’s salaries
This had been witnessed through the numerous strikes by the public university lecturers and non-teaching staff who are complaining of low pay. The unions for these workers have signing agreements which have not been met by the universities due to failure by the government to effect the payments(Muriithi, Horner, Pemberton & Wao, 2018). These have most of the universities workers to opt for other jobs which are well paying while resorted to working outside the country because of better pay. This has made the country suffer because of capital flight as productive people who have helped the country achieve its agenda are now working elsewhere

CONCLUSION
Universities are facing a lot of challenges evident from some of the measures they adopt to raise more funds, and the steps have impacted the institutions’ ability to deliver their core mandate. The ways the institutions are using to raise funds have made universities direct most of their efforts in raising funds rather than mobilize resources to ensure that the quality of education the public universities is high. The inability of the government of government to fully fund university education leaves is its future workforce unable to meet the needed developmental agenda. Therefore, the government and the universities should universities should work in tandem to ensure that the core responsibility of the institutions in met. Although its good to focus on ways to raise more funds for the support of academic activities, most universities are turning business entities rather than delivering quality education
The government should work with the relevant bodies to ensure that the amount of money remitted to the institutions is enough to help them meet their core mandate. They should put a proper mechanism in place to ensure that the universities do not erode the quality of education in their quest to raise more funds. They should ensure that more money is directed in the provision of quality education and not the establishment of income generating facilities

References
Augustine, Oduor (2018 November). Looming crisis as public varsities face closure over debts: standard media. Retrieved from
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001301801/looming-crisis-as-public-varsities-face-closure-over-debts
McCowan, T. (2016). Universities and the post-2015 development agenda: An analytical framework. Higher Education, 72(4), 505-523.
Muriithi, P., Horner, D., Pemberton, L., & Wao, H. (2018). Factors influencing research collaborations in Kenyan universities. Research Policy, 47(1), 88-97. doi: 10.1016/j.respol.2017.10.002
Otieno, W. (2015). Privatization of Kenyan Public Universities. International Higher Education, (36). doi: 10.6017/ihe.2004.36.7427
Ouma, Wanzala (2018 October). Universities face financial crisis after Sh1bn budget cut. Nation retrieved fromhttps://www.nation.co.ke/news/education/Universities-face-financial-crisis-Sh1bn-budget-cut/2643604-4822484-fwnkli/index.html
Tarus, J. K., Gichoya, D., & Muumbo, A. (2015). Challenges of implementing e-learning in Kenya: A case of Kenyan public universities. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 16(1).
Vincent, Achuka (2018 April). Tough times for universities as funds dry up, admissions drop: Standard media. Retrieved from
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001301801/looming-crisis-as-public-varsities-face-closure-over-debts
Wanjiku, W. (2016). Factors Affecting Non-Teaching Staff Development in Kenyan Universities. International Journal Of Academic Research In Business And Social Sciences, 6(5). doi: 10.6007/ijarbss/v6-i5/2120
Wanzala, W. (2017). Quest for quality and relevant higher education, training and learning in Kenya: an overview.

Do you need high quality Custom Essay Writing Services?