Relief for Parents as Government Sets Out New University Fees Framework After KCSE Results
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has sought to reassure parents and students that university education will remain affordable, amid growing concern over potential fee increases as more than 270,000 candidates who sat the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations prepare to transition to higher learning.
Speaking on Friday during the release of the 2025 KCSE results at AIC Chebisaas High School in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Ogamba insisted that the government has put in place measures to protect learners from excessive costs while expanding access to tertiary education.
With thousands of candidates now eligible for placement in universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, the Cabinet Secretary said the Ministry of Education is committed to ensuring that financial barriers do not lock out deserving students.
“At the tertiary level, we are implementing the Student-Centred Funding Model, which provides students and trainees with scholarships and loans based on need,” Ogamba said.
Under the current framework, he explained, minimum payable fees in public universities start from Ksh5,800 per semester, in line with ministry guidelines. Ogamba further disclosed that public university fees have undergone a major review, with costs rationalised by between 15 and 40 per cent.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, semester fees in public universities now range from Ksh5,800 to a maximum of Ksh75,000, depending on the programme of study.
The government’s intervention comes at a time when rising living costs and previous proposals to revise university fees had triggered widespread anxiety among parents, students, and education stakeholders.
Warning Issued to School Principals
Ogamba also issued a stern warning to principals of public schools, cautioning them against imposing extra charges or making unauthorised fee adjustments.
He reiterated that the government remains fully committed to financing basic education through capitation, stressing that learners should not be burdened with additional costs.
“We continue to support our learners with capitation in fulfilment of the government’s obligation to provide free and compulsory basic education,” he said.
For the current school year, the government has already released Ksh44.2 billion in capitation funds to public basic education institutions — a move Ogamba described as unprecedented.
“This is the first time in over ten years that capitation funds have been disbursed before schools reopen,” he noted.
The Education CS called on school heads to ensure the funds are used prudently and strictly for the benefit of learners, warning that misuse would not be tolerated.
KUCCPS Placement Process Explained
As attention shifts to university and college placement, Ogamba urged all eligible KCSE candidates to apply for courses once the placement window opens.
Placement into universities and colleges is coordinated by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), which has outlined clear eligibility requirements for applicants.
According to KUCCPS guidelines, only Kenyan citizens are eligible for placement into Kenyan universities. Non-citizens are currently excluded from university placement through the system.
However, foreign applicants may apply for select programmes, including:
- Diploma in Primary Teacher Education
- Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education
- Courses offered by the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC)
To qualify for placement, applicants must have sat the KCSE examination administered by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and meet minimum academic thresholds.
Under the current criteria:
- Degree programmes require a minimum grade of C+
- Diploma courses require at least a C-
- Certificate courses require a minimum grade of D+
KUCCPS advertises placement applications through print and electronic media. Candidates are required to apply online via the KUCCPS Student Portal.
To log in, applicants must enter their KCSE index number, year of examination, and password. Students are advised to use their KCPE index number as the default password.
With the placement process set to begin soon, education stakeholders are watching closely to see how the revised funding model and fee structure will shape access to higher education in the wake of the 2025 KCSE results.
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Relief for Parents as Government Sets Out New University Fees Framework After KCSE Results