Government Opens Ksh.30.8 Billion Scholarship Window for 2025 KCSE University Students

By Robai Ludenyi

Thousands of students who sat the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination and have secured places in public universities for the 2026/2027 academic year have been urged to apply for government scholarships under the Student Centred Funding Model before the application deadline expires.

The Universities Fund (UF) announced that applications are now open for the 202,133 students placed in public universities through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS). Students are required to submit their applications through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Portal, with the application window set to close on September 6.

The government has set aside Ksh.30.8 billion to finance university education under the scholarship programme during the 2026/2027 financial year. The allocation marks a significant increase of Ksh.12.4 billion compared to the Ksh.18.4 billion that was provided in the previous financial year, highlighting the government’s commitment to expanding access to higher education.

Universities Fund Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr. Edwin Wanyonyi encouraged students to complete their applications as early as possible instead of waiting until the last minute. He said early applications will give the agency enough time to verify the details, process the requests, award scholarships and release the funds before students report to their respective universities. Dr. Wanyonyi also reminded applicants to provide accurate and complete information when filling out the online forms. He noted that errors, missing documents or incomplete details could delay the processing of applications and affect the timely release of financial support.

He further appealed to parents, guardians and sponsors to actively assist students throughout the application process. According to him, ensuring all the required documents are ready in advance will help applicants complete the process smoothly and avoid unnecessary delays before the deadline.

Under the Student-Centred Funding Model, students admitted to public universities are eligible to receive both a government scholarship from the Universities Fund and a loan from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB). However, students joining private universities can only apply for HELB loans and do not qualify for the Universities Fund scholarship. The amount of financial assistance awarded to each student is not the same for everyone. Instead, it is determined by two main factors, the financial situation of the student’s household and the cost of the academic programme they have been admitted to pursue.

To ensure that every eligible student is aware of the opportunity, the Universities Fund has launched a nationwide public awareness campaign known as #WahiScholarship. The campaign is designed to educate students about the scholarship application process, explain the eligibility requirements and remind applicants of important deadlines.

To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must be Kenyan citizens, have been placed in a public university through KUCCPS, have sat the KCSE examination in 2022 or later, and complete their applications through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Portal before the September 6 deadline. Students who meet these requirements are being encouraged to apply early to improve the chances of receiving their financial support before the start of the academic year.

Read Also: HELB Opens 2026/2027 Loan And Scholarship Applications For First-Time University And TVET Students