The Kenya National Parents Association has called on the government to implement the recently announced reduction in university fees fully.
Association’s Kericho Chapter Chairperson, Zablon Cheruiyot, says the move will ease the financial burden on families and ensure that students can pursue higher education without interruption.
Speaking in Kericho town, he welcomed the move, saying the high cost of university education has long been a stumbling block for many students.
“We urge the government to implement the university fees reduction as promised,” said Cheruiyot. “This will allow thousands of students to follow their dreams without a hitch.”
Cheruiyot lamented that the cost of higher education has remained prohibitively high for many families, despite education being a constitutional right.
“Higher education should not be a privilege for the few who can afford it. It must be accessible to all deserving students, regardless of their background,” he said.
The parents’ leader also decried the delays in disbursing bursaries, noting that many students have been forced to defer their studies or drop out altogether due to financial uncertainty.
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“The timely release of bursaries is critical,” he added. “Delays have disoriented many students in the past, and this should not continue.”
Accompanied by other Association officials, Cheruiyot urged parents to play their part by investing in their children’s education, describing it as the most powerful equaliser in society.
“Education is the only inheritance we can guarantee our children. As parents, we must prioritise it,” he said.
The government’s decision to reduce university fees was announced in a memo from Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, who said the move followed extensive consultations with students, the public, and key education stakeholders.
“The rationalisation of university fees is aimed at ensuring affordable, accessible, and quality higher education,” read the memo. “This approach will also support the financial sustainability of institutions of higher learning.”
The reforms are part of broader efforts to strengthen the higher education sector and expand access for students from low-income households.
By Kimutai Langat
