Mange, D. M.Onyango, G. AWaweru., S. N.2015-06-082015-06-082015-05International Conference on ‘Re-Engineering Education for Sustainable Development’ 18th – 20th May 2015http://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/12813This paper was presented at the International Conference on ‘Re-Engineering Education for Sustainable Development’ held on 18th – 20th May 2015 at Kenyatta University Conference Centre (KUCC) Nairobi, KenyaThe quality of university education has become a high profile issue, in the 21st century due to the changes and challenges that face the entire system worldwide. The new changes coupled with insufficient funds in public universities in Africa have brought in new challenges to the management of these universities. In Kenya, expansion and privatization of public university education has raised concerns about the quality of education provided. This is because graduates of universities are expected to be equipped with relevant skills necessary for initiating and advancing economic development. The skills, attitudes and values they acquire form an essential part of the base for translation of material outputs of development into the overall well-being of the population. It is against this background that the researchers sought to investigate the magnitude of challenges that face management of the Kenyan public universities and their implications for quality education. The study, which was carried out in three public universities, Nairobi, Kenyatta and Egerton employed the descriptive survey design. The target population constituted Deans of schools and Chairpersons of departments in the three universities. Purposive sampling technique was employed and questionnaires were used as the main tools for data collection. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics while qualitative data was organized into thematic categories according to the objectives of the study. The study found that almost all the universities that took part in the study did not have enough teaching and learning infrastructure and resources, especially lecture halls, library spaces, computers and textbooks. The study found that funding was the biggest challenge as it affected all the other areas of research, teaching and learning. The study recommended that, the universities and the Government establish appropriate, reliable, diversified and sustainable mechanisms for financing university operations and that; the Commission for University Education (CUE) extends its quality assurance mandate to public universities.enExpansion of university educationPrivatization of public university educationQualityChallengesArticle