UoN revises fees for medical students after talks with KMPDU

The University of Nairobi (UoN) has revised the fee structure for its Master of Medicine (MMed) programmes following protracted talks with the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU).

The institution had proposed a hike in the fees in 2021, but KMPDU took to court to oppose the change as being too “drastic and unjustifiable,” besides lacking stakeholder engagement and public participation.

The union argued that the increase would deny plenty of young Kenyan doctors access to quality education, and would instead only serve to affect the programmes’ continuity and completion rates.

UoN and KMPDU hence, according to a new agreement seen by Citizen Digital on Tuesday, resolved that the fees would be increased progressively in a stepwise manner.

“For students who joined UoN in the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic years, the fees will be increased by 14.4% from Ksh.216,000 to Ksh.247,000, payable across all programmes throughout all the years of study,” read the agreement.

“For students who will join UoN in 2023/2024 academic year, the fees will be increased by 60% of base from Ksh.216, 000 to Ksh.345,000 for the first year. The fees will [furthermore] reduce by 13% from Ksh.345,000 in part one to Ksh.300,000 in part two.”

It added: “Accordingly, the cost of three (3) year programmes will be Ksh.945,000 increasing progressively to Ksh.1, 890,000 for the six (6) year programmes.”

The institution and the doctors’ union also agreed that the Clinical Department will – on a rotational basis - engage selected senior students as part time lecturers and faculty staff at a rate of Ksh.4,000 per hour.

“The Departments will undertake Curriculum Revision to provide for Academic Recess with effect from 2023/2024 Academic Year. In this arrangement, each student on rotational basis, shall be allowed 2 months academic recess in form of elective terms every year,” added the agreement.

“Such leave may be taken in a hospital where, although private, may earn the students credit. Such elective term shall be supervised by a qualified consultant and a logbook of activity recorded for purposes of evaluation.”

Further, it was agreed that the institution will – from the 2024/2025 academic year going forward – involve all relevant stakeholders during the fee review process.

These include KMPDU, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), as well as the ministries of Health and Education.

“The adjusted fees shall in such cases apply only to new students. The continuing students shall continue to pay the fees with which they were admitted,” the agreement stipulated.