February | 2017 | The whistling African

A dark cloud of financial uncertainty looms over the University of Nairobi which threatens to cripple operations and possibly force a shutdown of the higher learning institution in the next coming months.

The dire situation reliable sources confirm, has been compounded by a number of factors; to include: the completion of the University of Nairobi tower; a flagship project of the institution which has over time drained the institutions coffers, the strike notice issued by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) which has since the beginning of the year significantly reduced the number of module 2 admissions and thereby fees collection, a broke government unable to intervene to salvage the situation and possibly in future if approved, a reduced budgetary allocation of up to Ksh1.7 Billion and reduced faculty admissions in light of the Cabinet Secretary for Education Dr. Fred Matiangi led policy initiatives which has seen few qualify to join universities. As it stands the institution seems unable to top up the Ksh150 million it normally requires to pay salaries; a figure that is likely to shoot up to Ksh400 million in July 2017. Among the raft of measure the institution hopes to employ to keep it afloat include the now so ubiquitous laying off of staff.

University of Nairobi Towers

Students at the University of Nairobi

The UN Habitat and the Tourism Finance Corporation earlier yesterday

Illustration of the Cooling system employed in a termite mound

Termite mound

signed a memorandum of understanding that will see the UN agency provide technical support and advice to tourism industry stakeholders on how to integrate green energy and resource management principles in their day-to-day operations. Speaking at the corporation’s boardroom on the 11^th Floor of Utalii House, Nairobi Chief Executive Mr Orumoi T Jonah confirmed that the corporation would indeed offer financing to new industry entrants incorporating energy-saving architectural designs in new Hotels and Resort constructions. The initiative will also see already established resorts take advantage of financing to help them install solar panels and thereby take advantage of the renewable solar energy. Echoing the same sentiments, the UN Habitat Chief of Urban Energy Unit Dr Vincent N. Kitio pointed out that the initiative will see new Hotel and Resort constructions take advantage of architectural designs that will enable them take advantage of natural light and thereby significantly cut energy consumption in addition to harnessing the natural cooling systems employed in termite mound designs.