President William Ruto has pushed back the planned rollout of the government’s free university and college education programme, moving the expected start from September 2026 to the next semester, around January 2027.
Speaking in Kimana, Kajiado County, on Thursday, September 3, during a development tour of the area, Ruto said the new funding model would be operational from the next semester.
The Head of State said the new arrangement would cover students enrolled in universities, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, colleges and the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).
"Now, the education of all our children, from college to TVET, KMTC and universities, from the next semester, there is no student who will be sent home because of school fees," Ruto said.
The announcement marks a shift from the government’s earlier plan to roll out the universal free tertiary education programme in September 2026.
Students who had expected the new government funding arrangement to take effect this month may now have to wait until the next semester for the programme to be implemented.
Ruto had previously announced the plan on Tuesday, July 21, during a meeting at State House, Nairobi, saying all students who qualify for admission to universities and colleges would receive full government funding for their higher education.
"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.
The delay comes as Parliament continues to consider the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, 2026, which contains provisions for the proposed universal funding framework.
The Bill must undergo parliamentary debate and public participation before lawmakers can vote on it. Once passed by Parliament, it will be forwarded to the President for assent.
Ruto’s latest announcement came hours after the Ministry of Education urged first-year students to continue applying for funding through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Universities Fund while Parliament deliberates on the Bill.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said funding applications would continue to be processed under the existing Student-Centred Funding Model during the transition.
"For the avoidance of doubt, it is notified for the general information of the public that applications for funding for first time applicants will be considered and processed in accordance with the current Student-Centred Funding Model," the CS explained.
He added, "Appropriate transitional mechanisms to the Universal Access and Funding Framework shall be implemented once Parliament passes the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, 2026."
The Ministry’s directive means first-year students seeking financial assistance for the 2026/2027 academic year should continue using the existing funding system as Parliament works on the proposed new framework.
