Most universities poised to scale down their workforce, Prof. Munene.

Zetech University new Vice Chancellor Prof. Njenga Munene.

Kenya's unemployment crisis is set to worsen as many universities face uncertainties in the near future due to unsustainable student population.

According to Zetech University new Vice Chancellor Prof. Njenga Munene, the decreasing number of students admitted through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS) has seen most of the universities get low numbers compared to what they had planned for.

The effects of the low placements, he says, will be experienced on human capital and university staff maybe laid off to reduce the wage bill considering most universities had expanded their capacity to accommodate the new intakes.

“Some of the university staff might be laid off as the institutions had budgeted for a higher number but the placement has seen a very low intake in all the universities in Kenya. We hope this is resolved in future to avoid experiencing more effects on the universities,” Prof Munene said.

Prof. Munene reckoned that there was need to address the increasing number of students who did not attain the C+ grade which is the minimum grade for the university placement.

The VC called upon Kenyans to enroll for Certificate and Diploma courses as the government is reviewing the status of credit transfer where the students who have Diploma courses can attain their degrees.

Zetech University Council appointed Prof. Munene as the University’s new Vice Chancellor effective 1^st April 2018, taking over from Prof. Edwin Wamukoya who served the institution for six years and overseeing its transition to University status.

Prof. Munene joins the institution from Egerton University where he served as the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Administration and Finance. 

A distinguished strategist, he also served as Chairman of various committees at the varsity and was a member of the Egerton University Management Board.