The government has pledged to ensure that every student who qualifies and is placed in a university or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution receives adequate financial support to pursue higher education without being hindered by financial constraints.
Speaking on Thursday at State House, Nairobi, during a meeting with skilled artisans, President William Ruto said the government has made significant progress in reforming the higher education funding system and is now moving to ensure that no student misses out on tertiary education because of a lack of school fees.
“We are taking that model one more step forward. Every child in Kenya who has been placed in a TVET institution or university will be guaranteed funding to support their education,” the President said.
Ruto said the initiative will be anchored in the Higher Education Loans Board (Amendment) Bill, which is currently before Parliament and seeks to establish the legal framework for the new funding model.
According to the President, reforms introduced in 2022 have helped stabilize the higher education sector after universities faced severe financial challenges.
“Universities were on the verge of shutting down. They could not pay lecturers or suppliers. I changed the model and introduced a new one, and it has transformed our universities,” he said.
If the proposed legislation is passed, the government will be responsible for ensuring that all students admitted to universities and TVET institutions receive financial support regardless of their family’s economic status.
President Ruto said the government’s ultimate goal is to eliminate financial barriers that prevent many qualified students from accessing higher education.
“The Government of Kenya will have a funding model that ensures all these students receive money to study, and no Kenyan child will miss the opportunity to pursue higher education because of a lack of funds,” he said.
