Government Funding for All New University and College Students
Ruto Unveils Major Education Shake-Up as He Promises 100% Government Funding for All University and College Students
President William Ruto has announced a sweeping overhaul of Kenya’s higher education funding system, declaring that every student admitted to a university or college will receive full government funding if Parliament approves the necessary legal amendments.
The President made the announcement on Tuesday, July 21, during an event at State House, Nairobi, describing the proposal as a transformative policy aimed at ensuring no Kenyan is denied higher education because of financial hardship.
If implemented, the new system would mark one of the biggest changes to university financing in recent years, replacing the current Variable Scholarship and Loan Funding Model, which allocates government support based on a student’s level of financial need.
Under the proposal, every student who qualifies through national examinations and secures placement in a university or college would have their education fully funded by the State, regardless of their family’s income. Parents would only contribute if they voluntarily choose to do so.
“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 declared.
The President said the new model is expected to take effect from the September 2026 university intake, provided Parliament fast-tracks amendments to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Act.
His remarks come amid sustained public debate over Kenya’s existing university funding formula, which has faced criticism from students, parents and education stakeholders who argue that the needs-based categorisation has left some learners struggling to meet household contribution requirements.
Ruto argued that education remains the most powerful tool for creating equal opportunities and insisted that financial barriers should never prevent qualified students from pursuing careers in critical fields such as medicine, engineering and science.
“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,” the President said.
He further appealed to Members of Parliament to urgently pass the required legislation, saying the reforms would ensure talented students are no longer forced to abandon their dream courses because their families cannot afford the required 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 proposal signals a significant departure from the current funding framework introduced under the Kenya Kwanza administration, where students receive varying levels of scholarships and loans depending on their assessed financial capacity.
Despite announcing the ambitious plan, Ruto indicated that the government will first undertake consultations before finalising implementation.
“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,” he said.
Should Parliament approve the amendments, Kenya would move towards a universal government-funded higher education model, potentially benefiting tens of thousands of students joining universities and colleges every year.