President William Ruto has announced plans for the government to fully fund higher education for all students admitted to universities and colleges, regardless of their financial background.
Speaking at State House in Nairobi on Tuesday, July 21, Ruto said any student who successfully completes national examinations and secures placement in a university or college will receive full government support for their studies.
“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 said.
The proposed funding model is expected to take effect from the September 2026 intake, subject to Parliament approving amendments to the Higher Education Loans Board Act.
The announcement represents a major change from the current higher education financing system, which provides support based on students’ financial need through the Variable Scholarship and Loan Funding Model.
Under the proposed arrangement, the government would cover the cost of higher education for all eligible students admitted to public universities and colleges, while parents would only contribute voluntarily if they choose to do so.
Ruto has urged Members of Parliament to fast-track the required legal amendments to allow the new funding structure to be implemented.
The President said access to quality education is a key driver of equality and national development, arguing that no qualified student should miss out on pursuing their preferred career because of financial challenges.
“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,” he said.
Ruto noted that the current system has left some students from less privileged backgrounds unable to pursue competitive courses because of the household contributions required.
He specifically highlighted cases where students admitted to courses such as medicine may struggle to continue due to financial constraints.
“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 said.
If approved by Parliament, the new policy will see the government take full responsibility for financing higher education for all qualified students joining public universities and colleges.
Ruto added that the government will review the proposal, consult stakeholders and assess recommendations before finalising the implementation framework.
“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.
The proposed move is expected to reshape Kenya’s higher education financing system by expanding access to university and college education for students across the country.