{"id":686478,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/686478/?format=json","text_counter":224,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. H.K. Njuguna","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":1508,"legal_name":"Humphrey Kimani Njuguna","slug":"humphrey-kimani-njuguna"},"content":"one of the biggest budget allocations individually is on education. Therefore, this Bill is very important because not only do we want quality education, but we also want to make sure that if we are training engineers, they are engineers who can stand anywhere in the world. Somebody said that the word “university” comes from the word “universal”. So, a graduate of engineering from a university in Kenya should equal any graduate of engineering anywhere in the world. This is an area we feel, perhaps, we have lost it. However, we want to bring order. I am also concerned with master’s and PhD programmes. There was a time in this country when it was very difficult to get a master’s degree. That area is now opening up, but we still have a problem with PhD programmes, which are a preserve of a few people who do not want others to go up there. It is important for us to look into those areas so that the PhD programmes also open up in this country. That is because to teach in the university, I believe you need to have a PhD. When you hear a PhD student taking 10 to 13 years before he or she graduates, then there is a problem. There must be a problem. A PhD student should go through the programme at least in three years’ time and at most, four years’ time. However, I know of students who take 10 to 13 years. In this country, about 50 per cent of PhD students never go through the programme because of frustrations. Something ought to be done even as we regulate our education programmes. Universities are about research. In fact, master’s and PhD programmes are about research. I would like to see a situation where there are a lot of resources pumped into research because it is only through research that we can come up with new findings in the various areas. I do not think we are spending time in research in our universities both at master’s and PhD programmes. Universities are about research. It is important that universities invest in research. Hon. Members here have talked about ethnicity. If you go to a certain university, you will know the vice-chancellor because of the people who are employed in that particular university. I believe in competition. If you recruit a vice-chancellor, let it be done competitively. If you are talking about the best doctor in medicine, let it be so. There are areas of excellence. As much as you like to talk about regional balancing and so on, I want to see excellence being promoted in those institutions such that if so-and-so has gone through the recruitment process and is the best vice-chancellor, let it be. With that contribution, I support this Bill."}