The government through the Ministry of Education, (MoE) has formally announced a significant reduction in university fees for public institutions, a move described as a “landmark rationalization” under the new Student-Centred Funding Model.
The directive, issued through the State Department for Higher Education, takes effect from September 1, 2025, and applies to both first-year and continuing students.
In an official circular to Vice-Chancellors of public universities and Principals of constituent colleges, Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala stated that the revised fees structure follows extensive consultations with the public, students, and higher education stakeholders.
The Government’s decision is in direct response to widespread concerns about the cost of higher education, particularly from students and their families.
“This bold step reaffirms our commitment to ensuring affordable, accessible, and quality university education,” Dr. Inyangala said. She added that the reform also seeks to maintain the financial sustainability of our institutions.
The revised model introduces a tiered system that classifies academic programmes into 14 cost-based clusters, each with defined minimum and maximum fee ranges per semester.
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High-cost programmes such as clinical medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine will now range between Ksh 22,371 and Ksh 75,000 for clinical years, while pre-clinical years will range from Ksh 12,960 to Ksh 51,840. Dentistry and pharmacy clinical training have been capped within similar ranges, with veterinary medicine clinical years ranging from Ksh 20,546 to Ksh 75,000.
Engineering, surveying, and architecture programmes will fall within Ksh 12,960 to Ksh 57,888, with variations based on the level and specialization.
Construction, real estate, and urban planning programmes have also been aligned to this range. Health-related sciences, including nursing, clinical medicine at the bachelor’s level, medical laboratory science, radiography, physiotherapy, and public health, will now range between Ksh 13,082 and Ksh 57,600 depending on the specific course. Programmes in agriculture, wildlife management, biochemistry, biotechnology, and environmental science will range from Ksh 9,720 to Ksh 46,512.
Programmes in law, aviation, and fashion design have been placed in the Ksh 9,690 to KSh 38,760 range, while business, economics, and arts education programmes will range from Ksh 7,525 to Ksh 30,101. Public administration, psychology, and international relations will now cost between Ksh 6,982 and Ksh 27,927, and history, sociology, and political science programmes will carry the lowest fees, ranging from Ksh 5,814 to Ksh 23,256. Basic sciences, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, geography, and biology, will range between Ksh 10,659 and Ksh 42,636.
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Public universities have been instructed to immediately adopt the revised fee schedule and update their admissions and finance systems accordingly. The new funding framework will continue to support students through a combination of tuition fees, scholarships, and need-based loans.
The Ministry emphasized that the overhaul reflects the Government’s broader vision for the education sector.
“The Government remains steadfast in its vision to transform higher education as a cornerstone of national development,” the circular read.
Dr. Inyangala urged all institutions to implement the new guidelines with diligence.
“We count on your full cooperation to implement these financing reforms efficiently, equitably, and in the best interest of Kenyan students and families.” She stated.
By Cornelius Korir
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