Govt disburses Ksh4.2 Billion to support 400,000 university students

• Universities Fund has disbursed Ksh4.2 billion in scholarships to public universities to support more than 400,000 continuing undergraduate students under the Student-Centred Funding Model (SCFM).

• The disbursement comes just days before the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Portal is set to open for the 2025 KCSE cohort.

• Through the portal, students admitted to universities will apply for scholarships under the Universities Fund and loans from HELB.

The government, through the Universities Fund has disbursed Ksh4.2 billion in scholarships to public universities to support more than 400,000 continuing undergraduate students under the Student-Centred Funding Model (SCFM), reaffirming its commitment to improving access to higher education.

The latest release raises the total allocation from the National Treasury for the 2025/2026 financial year to Ksh18.4 billion. The funding will cover tuition costs for students admitted to public universities in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 academic cohorts.

The disbursement comes just days before the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Portal is set to open for the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) cohort. Through the portal, students admitted to universities will apply for scholarships under the Universities Fund and loans from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).

Universities Fund Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr. Edwin Wanyonyi said the funding reflects the government’s continued commitment to strengthening higher education as a key pillar of national development.

“This investment affirms the role of universities in driving national development, expanding access to quality education, and empowering the next generation of professionals and innovators,” he said.

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Wanyonyi urged all students placed in public universities through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) to apply for both scholarships and student loans as soon as the application portal opens.

“I urge all KUCCPS-placed students to monitor the opening of the HEF portal and submit applications promptly. Stude0nts should apply for both scholarships and loans to reduce the burden of household contributions,” Wanyonyi said.

The latest funding announcement comes amid a significant surge in demand for university education. The number of students qualifying for direct university admission has risen from 69,155 in 2017 to 270,715 in 2025, marking a 292 per cent increase.

To accommodate the growing enrolment, the government has raised scholarship funding from Ksh18.4 billion in the 2025/2026 financial year to Ksh30.8 billion in the 2026/2027 financial year.

By Frank Mugwe