• Prof. Mutua has urged the government to allocate more funds and land for hostel construction and collaborate with private investors.

The demand for student accommodation in public universities and colleges has surpassed the available supply, prompting calls for the government to take immediate action.

The Vice Chancellor of the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), Prof. Benedict Mutua, has emphasised the need for collaboration between the government, private sector, and local communities to construct affordable and high-quality student hostels.

According to him, insufficient hostel capacity affects academic performance and exposes students to security risks and financial burdens.

Prof. Mutua highlighted the significant disparity between the number of students and the limited hostel capacity at TUK.

“We need to provide hostels to the students,” he said, adding that TUK, in particular, requires over 5,000 hostels to cater for its over 15,000 students. The university has only available space for 423 students.

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This situation compromises their safety and well-being, disrupts their academic routine, and imposes additional financial burdens.

Prof. Mutua has urged the government to allocate more funds and land for hostel construction and collaborate with private investors.

He added that a partnership between the government, private sector, and local communities would benefit everyone involved. It would create employment opportunities, generate revenue, and enhance the quality of education and students' living conditions.

Prof. Mutua cited the example of GHS, in-campus hostels providing a conducive learning and socialising environment. These hostels offer free Wi-Fi, common rooms, study areas, recreational facilities, and support services.

He stressed the importance of regulating and monitoring these hostels to ensure compliance with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) guidelines.

Furthermore, he insisted that proper staff, infrastructure, safety measures, hygiene standards, and fee structures should be in place. Furthermore, the hostels should uphold students' rights, promote diversity, and foster values of democracy, secularism, national integration, peace, and harmony.

Prof. Mutua emphasised that creating additional hostels for students is urgent and prioritised.

According to him, immediate action is needed to address the accommodation crisis and alleviate students' challenges. Therefore, the government must act swiftly and decisively to provide adequate student hostel capacity.