The Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang’ula, hosted a delegation of Doctoral Leadership students from USIU-Africa, led by Prof. Timothy Oketch, Dean of the Chandaria School of Business.
The meeting delved into pressing issues affecting Kenya’s education sector, the Affordable Housing agenda, and the potential risks posed by gaps in the IEBC’s structure.
Prof. Oketch highlighted Kenya’s struggle with graduate employability despite having over 70 chartered universities. He noted that overcrowded classrooms and a mismatch between academic training and labor market demands were critical issues.
“Policies are in place, but enforcement is lacking,” Prof. Oketch said. “We must invest in inclusivity, enhance digital transformation, and strengthen TVET institutions and universities to prepare our youth for jobs of the future. Agriculture drives 60% of our economy, but we need more emphasis on entrepreneurial skills, digital jobs, AI, and robotics to remain competitive.” He added.
Wetang’ula underscored the need for a clearer roadmap to ensure the successful implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
“Our education system has undergone many experiments, but poor communication and planning have hampered the CBC rollout. Parents and students haven’t fully embraced it because they don’t understand it. It’s time to ensure all stakeholders are on board,” Wetangula remarked.
Wetang’ula emphasized on the importance of aligning education with market needs.
“Are we delivering the kind of education that propels our economy forward? Germany, for instance, has 70% of its graduates in science fields, which drives their technology and innovation. Kenya must focus on fields that also will help propel the Country forward,” guided Speaker Wetangula.
The Speaker also urged a shift from the perception that education guarantees employment. “We need to debunk the fallacy that you go to school to get a job. It is to get knowledge,” he said. We need to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and give digital skills to Kenyans to help meet the global labor market and increase employability.
On affordable housing, the delegation and the Speaker raised concerns about the sustainability of the initiative, if future administrations deprioritize it.
Prof. Oketch questioned on the sustainability of the Affordable Housing Agenda if successive governments don’t priorities Housing. “We need a framework to ensure continuity and a cost-effective approach to meet this promise,” he said.
“Affordable housing is not just a project, it is a constitutional right under Article 43,” said Wetang’ula. “This vision began with Mzee Kibaki and has been carried forward by successive governments. But what happens if the next government doesn’t onboard it? Kenya can draw lessons from Malaysia, whose population of 34 million has access to affordable housing. It’s crucial to educate Kenyans on how to access these homes while ensuring the project remains sustainable.”
IEBC conundrum
The absence of a fully constituted Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) emerged as a pressing constitutional anomaly.
“The IEBC reconstitution process is still in court, but this delay poses a significant risk to our nation,” said the Speaker. “We also need a seamless transition framework where there is an overlap in Commissions to ensure there is knowledge transfer from one commission to the next. A standing commission present will ensure readiness to execute its mandate without disruptions.”
Speaker Wetang’ula also urged universities to step up in research and provide actionable recommendations for addressing these challenges.
