President William Ruto has announced a major overhaul of Kenya’s higher education funding system, declaring that every student who qualifies for admission to a university or college will receive full government funding once the new policy takes effect.
Speaking at State House in Nairobi on Tuesday, July 21, the President said the government intends to ensure that no qualified student misses out on higher education because of financial constraints.
Ruto said the proposed changes will guarantee funding for all students who pass their national examinations and secure placement in universities or colleges, regardless of their family’s financial 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,” the President said.
The new financing model is expected to take effect from the September 2026 university and college intake, subject to Parliament approving the necessary legislative amendments.
If enacted, the policy will replace the current Variable Scholarship and Loan Funding Model, which determines government support based on students’ financial needs and household income. Under that system, students are grouped into different funding bands, with the level of scholarships and loans varying according to their assessed ability to pay.
The proposed changes would instead see the government fully finance tuition and related higher education costs for every student admitted to public universities and colleges, leaving parental contributions as entirely voluntary.
President Ruto called on Members of Parliament to expedite amendments to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Act to pave the way for the implementation of the new funding framework.
According to the Head of State, education remains one of the most powerful tools for achieving equality and national development, adding that Kenya cannot afford to deny deserving students the opportunity to pursue their preferred careers 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,” Ruto said.
He noted that under the existing funding model, some students from low-income households have been forced to abandon highly competitive programmes, including medicine and engineering, because they could not 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,” he added.
The President maintained that every Kenyan student who earns admission to a university or college should have an equal opportunity to pursue higher education without financial barriers standing in the way.
Despite announcing the policy direction, Ruto said the government will first undertake a comprehensive review of the proposal before rolling it out. He noted that consultations with key stakeholders will be conducted to ensure the new funding model is sustainable and effective.
“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,” the President said.
Should Parliament approve the proposed amendments, Kenya will transition to a universal higher education funding model in which all students admitted to universities and colleges receive full government support, marking one of the most significant reforms to the country’s higher education financing system in recent years.
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