Justina Wamae: Free university education in Kenya is a pipe dream
Former Roots Party Deputy Leader Justina Wamae has said that free university education is not realistic under Kenya’s current economic conditions.
Through a lengthy post shared on Friday, October 24, 2025, Wamae argued that the idea of offering free university education is a political lie meant to excite voters, adding that what the country needs is a thriving economy where parents can comfortably afford to pay school fees.
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“ANYBODY PROMISING YOU FREE EDUCATION, INCLUDING UNIVERSITY EDUCATION, IS LYING!” Wamae wrote on X.
Wamae said that during her time in both private and public universities, the fees paid by students played a crucial role in keeping the institutions functional.
“Our university leadership was just there since the school fees paid by my parents would speak for me. Even when I did my Master’s in a public university, the school fees paid still talked for me,” she noted.
Students, poverty, and leadership motivation
Wamae also weighed in on the recent debate surrounding university student leaders, saying many of them are driven by poverty rather than genuine representation.
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She said it is unfair to blame students for accepting government incentives, arguing that financial hardship leaves them with few choices.
“For starters, let us agree that poverty is the enemy! If you were a student leader, you would also accept those incentives from the State House,” she stated.
She compared the current situation to past administrations, saying that during President Daniel Arap Moi’s era, student leaders were allegedly paid by the government to weaken their movements, while in later years, opposition figures and NGOs offered financial backing to fuel protests and activism.
“Sadly, during Kibaki’s time and Uhuru’s time, when it was seen that university students’ leadership was strong and would challenge lecturers’ strikes, State House was very mean and they were getting the incentives from the opposition leadership,” she said.
Wamae calls for policy, not promises
Wamae emphasised that Kenyans should prioritise policy-based politics instead of voting for personalities who make unrealistic pledges.
She urged for an economy where parents’ financial ability speaks for them, saying this will reduce dependency on government subsidies.
“It’s time for Kenyans to pay school or university fees so that schools and universities can pay their bills, including lecturers’ salaries,” she wrote.
“New thinking calls for a lean government.”
Wamae’s remarks come amid renewed public debate about education funding, with some leaders pushing for full government sponsorship while others argue for private contribution to ensure sustainability.
