President William Ruto has unveiled plans to fully fund higher education for every student admitted to universities and colleges, signalling a significant overhaul of Kenya's university financing system.
Speaking at State House, Nairobi, on Tuesday, July 21, the President said all students who pass their national examinations and secure placement in universities or colleges will be entitled to full government sponsorship, irrespective of their economic status.
“Going forward, any student, so long as they have passed their examinations and they have been placed in a college or university, will get full funding for their higher education. It will be the choice for parents if they want to pay,” Ruto said.
Ruto said the proposed funding framework is expected to take effect from the September 2026 university intake once Parliament approves the necessary legislation.
The proposal departs from the existing Variable Scholarship and Loan Funding Model, under which students receive varying levels of financial support depending on their assessed household need.
If implemented, the State will meet the full cost of higher education for students admitted to public universities and colleges, while any financial contribution from parents will be optional.
The President called on lawmakers to prioritise amendments to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Act to pave the way for the new funding model.
According to Ruto, investing in education is critical to promoting equal opportunities, adding that no qualified student should miss out on their preferred course because of financial hardship.
“Countries that are ahead of us had high-quality education. Education was a central pillar. My team tells me that education makes us equal and has no equal. That is where we are taking this,” he said.
He observed that the current system has forced some students from low-income households to abandon competitive programmes because they are unable to raise the required household contribution.
“I want to implore Parliament to expedite amendments to the Higher Education Loans Board so that beginning September we can make sure that any child who qualifies for medicine does not fail to study medicine because their parents cannot afford to pay the household contribution," Ruto reiterated.
Should Parliament approve the proposed changes, all qualifying students admitted to universities and colleges will have their higher education fully financed by the government.
The President, however, indicated that the proposal will first undergo further scrutiny and stakeholder engagement before it is fully rolled out.
“As government, we shall now study this proposal carefully. We shall engage with its recommendations, consult widely and once that process is done, I will communicate the way forward as we shape Kenya's next long-term vision,” he said.
