Govt-Sponsored University Students May Be Forced to Work for State Before Seeking Private Jobs

University students benefiting from government sponsorship could soon be required to work for the state before venturing into private employment, if a new proposal by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) sails through Parliament.

Appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee on Tuesday, KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mercy Wahome said the government should start bonding students who receive scholarships under the new university funding model to ensure taxpayers get value for money.

“We may need to look into the issue of bonding, where one who applies for a government scholarship may be required to serve the nation for a particular period,” Wahome told MPs during their visit to the KUCCPS headquarters in Nairobi.

Wahome argued that while the state invests billions annually in higher education, there is little accountability or return from graduates who often move abroad or join the private sector soon after completing their studies.

“Scholarships are taken very seriously. Students compete on merit, but in other countries, scholarships come with obligations. Here, we offer them freely with no condition attached,” she added.

If implemented, the plan would mirror models used in countries where state-funded scholars are required to work in public institutions for a fixed term before pursuing private sector opportunities or jobs abroad.

However, the proposal is likely to spark debate among education stakeholders, with concerns expected around enforcement, job availability, and the potential restriction of graduates’ freedom to choose employment.

During the session, MPs also raised alarm over the large number of students who fail to transition to tertiary institutions. Luanda MP Dick Maungu said that out of the 950,000 students who sat for last year’s KCSE exams, only 250,000 secured university or college placements.

Wahome admitted KUCCPS lacks the capacity to track unplaced students or monitor those already enrolled to determine whether they complete their studies or drop out.

“We have a gap in tracking those we place. If KUCCPS allocates students, we should be able to get returns to know how many complete their studies. This will help us assess the value of government investment,” she said.

Beyond bonding proposals, KUCCPS also wants to centralize and manage all scholarship allocations, including those offered by foreign governments. Board Chairperson Cyrus Gitau said consolidating scholarships under KUCCPS would promote fairness and merit-based selection.

“We have those bilateral scholarships that come time and again. KUCCPS is best placed to competitively pick beneficiaries and ensure equitable distribution,” Gitau said.

The agency is further seeking legislative changes to expand its mandate and gain full independence from ministerial control. Under the proposed amendments, KUCCPS would handle the placement of both government-sponsored and self-sponsored students, as well as facilitate Kenyan students joining foreign universities and foreign students applying locally.

“One of the mandates we want included in the KUCCPS Act is that all placements of students in tertiary institutions must be done through KUCCPS,” Gitau said, adding that the move would help the government collect accurate data for planning and funding purposes.

If Parliament approves the proposals, future university entrants under government sponsorship could find themselves signing a new kind of social contract — one that ties their education to service for the nation.