The Ministry of Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba has announced that over 134,000 loan and scholarship applications have been received, and almost 128,000 of these have been sorted into their respective bands.
According to a press release seen by Education News dated August 23 and signed by the CS, 12,958 applications that had been categorized have now submitted appeals for re-categorization.
“Following the opening of the Higher Education Portal for this application cycle, 134,029 applications for loans and scholarships have been received to date. A total of 127,591 applications have already been categorized into the various bands,” reads the statement.
In the statement, the CS noted that the re-categorization will depend on the accuracy of the information provided about an applicant’s socio-economic status, socio-demographic factors, affirmative action considerations, and family education expenses.
Ogamba mentioned that to ensure equitable categorization of all applicants and prevent any exclusion from funding, the ministry is collaborating with officers from the National Government Administration Office (NGAO) using a multi-agency approach.
The CS noted that the officers will assist in verifying the information provided by applicants from their respective areas across over 100,000 villages nationwide.
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He emphasized that this strategy is part of a broader effort to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the funding process.
“This approach underscores the Government’s commitment to ensure that no student is left behind. The multi-agency approach is part of the broader effort to ensure that funding decisions are based on accurate and verified information,” he added.
Ogamba also mentioned that Ksh2.8 billion has been allocated to the Universities Fund for scholarships, while Ksh5.2 billion has been set aside for the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to cover tuition and maintenance loans.
He noted that the funds are being distributed to the appropriate university and student accounts, pending verification of reporting and admission, and that the disbursement process is expected to be finalized by August 30.
By Frank Mugwe
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