Ol Kalou MP Sammy Ngotho has declared his opposition to the proposed Tertiary Education, Placement and Funding Bill, 2026, warning that its provisions could increase the financial burden on university students and limit access to higher education.
Ngotho, an alumnus of the University of Nairobi, raised concerns over proposed changes to the financing of tertiary education, particularly the potential role of private investors in funding students. He argues that shifting a greater share of education financing from the government to private investors could expose students to expensive loans and undermine equitable access to university education.
One of his key concerns is the absence of a clear statutory cap on interest rates on student loans. He warned that investors seeking returns could charge high rates, potentially reaching 20 per cent, leaving graduates with substantial debts after their studies. He cautioned that graduates could leave university with debts running into millions of shillings at a time when jobs remain scarce.
Ngotho also questioned how scholarships would be treated under the new framework, warning that reduced access to grants could force more students to rely entirely on loans.
The MP further warned that involving private investors could lead to discrimination against learners pursuing courses considered less attractive in the labour market. Investors, he said, could favour programmes perceived to offer better employment prospects and returns, putting students in other disciplines at a disadvantage.
Opponents of the framework have called for stronger safeguards on interest rates, continued scholarships and grants for vulnerable students, and guarantees that learners in all academic programmes will not be locked out of funding.
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