Thousands of university freshmen have reported to campuses without knowing how they will finance their studies, as the government works to overhaul student funding and a crucial Bill remains pending before the National Assembly.
The first-year students began reporting last week amid a transition in the funding system, leaving those seeking government support uncertain about how they will pay tuition, accommodation and upkeep. The Ministry of Education has so far offered little clarity, assuring students and parents only that it will “guide them appropriately” once the transition process is completed.
Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala on Tuesday sought to calm anxious parents and students, saying the government was aware of the uncertainty created by the proposed changes to the funding model.
“I want to allay the fears of any parents, guardians or students about payment of school fees. During this transition period, the universities are admitting students and we shall guide them appropriately when this process is finalised,” she said.
The government is seeking to change how university and college students are financed through the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, 2026, which is now before Parliament.
The uncertainty follows the government’s plan to replace the student-centred funding model introduced in 2023 with a system in which all students placed in public universities, colleges and TVET institutions would have their education financed through loans.
The proposed law, which is undergoing public participation, seeks to abolish government scholarships for university and college students and instead provide funding entirely through loans.
Under the proposed system, the State would cover 100 per cent of a student’s education costs, with the amount recorded as a loan repayable once the graduate secures employment.
Freshmen who have already reported to campus expecting government support may now have to make alternative arrangements to meet immediate expenses as they await clarity on how their education will be financed.
“Up to now, we have around 195,000 students who have reported out of the expected 202,000 students,” the PS said.
Public Universities Vice Chancellors Committee Chairperson Prof Daniel Mugendi Njiru makes his remarks during a consultative meeting with universities on the Kenya National Qualifications Framework and the National Qualification Database held at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) on September 01, 2026.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation
Prof Daniel Mugendi, chairman of the Public Universities Vice-Chancellors’ Committee, said reporting rates for first-year students were high, with some institutions recording more than 90 per cent of placed students.
He said universities had advised students seeking government assistance to continue with their applications while awaiting further direction.
“Those students who need help and support from the government in either form of scholarships and loans should still go ahead and apply,” Prof Mugendi said.
He said universities had mechanisms to identify extremely needy students and support them through needy funds as they await government direction.
Most applicants for government scholarships and loans come from low-income households and rely on financial support to cover tuition, accommodation and upkeep.
The funding uncertainty therefore hits this group particularly hard because their families cannot afford to pay university fees privately and were relying on scholarships, loans or a combination of the two under the existing system.
Universities Fund data shows demand for government assistance remains high, as shrinking scholarship funding collides with a growing number of students seeking financial support.
As at August 20, a total of 159,551 university students had completed funding applications through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal.
State Department for Higher Education and Research Principal Secretary Dr Beatrice Inyangala speaks during a consultative meeting with universities on the Kenya National Qualifications Framework and the National Qualifications Database at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development in Nairobi on September 1, 2026.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
Of these, 150,403 applications included a Universities Fund scholarship. Some 149,761 were scholarship-and-loan combination applications, while 642 were for scholarships only. A further 9,148 students applied for loans only.
In 2023/2024, the government provided the full Sh12.4 billion required for scholarships. In 2024/2025, it allocated Sh16 billion, leaving a Sh9.6 billion deficit, while in 2025/2026, Sh18.9 billion was provided against a requirement that was Sh12 billion higher.
The funding gap has now widened to Sh17 billion in the current financial year, even as the number of students requiring scholarships is projected to increase from 408,879 last year to about 608,879.
The figures indicate that a substantial number of students entering university have already sought State assistance, even as the government works on the proposed financing framework.
Prof Mugendi said students able to finance their education privately could proceed with fee payments as institutions await direction from the government concerning financing.
For struggling families, the delay risks turning admission into an immediate financial crisis.
The temporary arrangements may offer relief to some students, but they are unlikely to resolve the wider uncertainty over how the majority of government-funded students will meet the costs of their education.
