Machakos County Governor Dr Alfred Mutua has criticised the government's plan to merge universities and close down others.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Mutua said that the country needs more universities and not the closure of the existing ones.
"I do not support the new recommendations of merging universities and shutting down some of them. The reality is as Kenya grows, and with nearly 80 per cent of the population being below the age of 40, we need more universities not less," Mutua said.
Mutua who acknowledged the challenges faced during the funding and provision of quality education argued that the closure of universities especially in counties was unacceptable.
According to the governor, universities have helped students from poor backgrounds to uplift the living standards of their families.
"In every village, it is clear that it is through education that children from extremely poor background have become topnotch professionals and industry captains turning the fortunes of their families and communities around," he said.
The outspoken county boss noted that education was the surest way to create equity in the society by bridging the huge gap between the poor and rich. He further argued that all universities are packed with students, adding that no single institution lacks learners.
"Education is not for the rich but for all Kenyans regardless of economic background, place of birth or gender," he added.