President William Ruto has announced major changes to higher education financing, promising that university, Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students will not be sent home because their parents cannot afford school fees from January 2027.
The announcement was made on Sunday, November 8, during an interdenominational church service at Nyamaiya Stadium in Nyamira County.
Ruto said his administration was working on a new education funding framework to address challenges affecting students and families under the existing system.
The President explained that the government had consulted Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Chief Executive Geoffrey Monari to develop the proposed changes.
He said the government was preparing new legislation to support the funding arrangements and intended to complete the process before Parliament proceeded on its December recess.
Under the proposed changes, students attending universities, KMTCs and TVET institutions should be allowed to continue with their education even when their parents are unable to pay the required fees.
Ruto maintained that financial circumstances should not prevent deserving students from pursuing higher education.
The announcement comes amid concerns about the cost of university education and challenges surrounding the student-centred funding model introduced in 2023.
The current system provides financial assistance through government scholarships and HELB loans, with the level of support determined by students' assessed financial needs.
However, the funding model has faced criticism from students and parents over concerns about categorisation, affordability and the amount of financial assistance awarded.
Ruto's proposed changes are expected to address some of these concerns by strengthening the legal framework governing higher education financing.
Parliament will play an important role in determining how the proposed arrangements are implemented. The new legislation must be completed and approved before the government can fully implement the promised changes.
The President's announcement is particularly important for families preparing for the January 2027 academic calendar, as students joining or returning to universities and colleges await clarity on their financial obligations.
However, the government has not announced that all university and college education will become free. The commitment is specifically aimed at preventing students from being sent home because their parents cannot afford the required fees.
The proposed legislation and implementation guidelines will determine how institutions handle outstanding fees and student funding under the new arrangement.
Ruto's announcement has therefore shifted attention to the Ministry of Education and Parliament, which are expected to play central roles in delivering the promised reforms.
For thousands of students, the biggest expectation is that financial difficulties will no longer interrupt their studies when the new academic period begins in January.
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