[Principal Secretary, State Department for University Education, Prof. Collette Suda. Photo/Jkuat]
The government has halted establishment of new universities.
State Department for University Education Principal Secretary Collette Suda said this will help enhance quality in the existing higher learning institutions.
According to Suda, Kenya has 31 public and 40 private universities, which were enough to serve the country's education sector.
The halt, she said, was reached following a quality audit exercise in the institutions, which revealed that some universities had been set up, illegally.
She said the audit by the Commission for University Education (CUE) was completed in February 2017.
Speaking during the fourth graduation ceremony at Southern Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) in Kwavonza, Kitui County, the PS noted: "Expansion of university education in an environment with limited resources has negative effect on quality education, and the future of students.''