- President William Ruto has assured Kenyans of plan to ensure all students admitted to public universities and TVETs will receive full government funding.
- He highlighted increased allocations from Sh500 billion in 2022 to Sh780 billion in 2026 to support higher education.
- Proposed reforms include merging HELB, Universities Fund and TVET Fund into a single Tertiary Education Funding Authority.
President William Ruto has moved to defend his administration’s proposal to fully fund university and college education, assuring Kenyans that every student admitted to a public university or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution will receive financial support, despite mounting public concern over how the programme will be financed.
Speaking on Thursday while meeting Nairobi County artisans at State House, Ruto urged sceptics to trust the government’s plan, pointing to what he described as a track record of delivering on past promises, including the construction of affordable housing units, markets and student hostels.
Ruto drew a parallel between the proposed funding model and the rollout of free primary education under former President Mwai Kibaki, noting that the initiative had also faced public doubt at the time before it was eventually implemented.
“You remember when Mwai Kibaki said there would be free primary education, people mocked him and said it was impossible. I am telling you today that all university students and those joining tertiary institutions going forward will have a funding model from the Government of Kenya that ensures all these students receive money for their education,” Ruto said.
He sought to dispel doubts over the feasibility of the plan, insisting that no child would be locked out of higher education due to lack of finances.
“No Kenyan child will miss the opportunity to study because of a lack of money. And I’m not mad, I’m not drunk, and I’m not foolish; I know what I am saying. I am an expert in this matter,” Ruto said.
The President described education as a central pillar in the pursuit of equality in the country, noting that his government had steadily raised its budgetary allocation to the sector since taking office.
“Education is what brings us equality. That is why we have invested a lot of money in education. Since 2022, I have increased the amount of money allocated to education from Sh500 billion, and this year it has reached Sh780 billion to ensure all our children go to school,” Ruto said.
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He further pointed to the university funding model introduced in 2023 as evidence of reforms already transforming the higher education sector, noting that universities had previously grappled with financial difficulties, including challenges paying lecturers and settling obligations owed to suppliers.
According to the President, the current funding model had helped stabilise university finances and improve the overall management of higher education funding, and the government now intends to build on those gains through fresh legal reforms.
“That is why I have said there is a Higher Education Loans Board Amendment Bill before Parliament, which will enable us to ensure that every Kenyan child who has been placed in a TVET institution or university will have funding to support their education,” he said.
The proposed legislation is expected to overhaul the existing higher education financing framework by merging the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), the Universities Fund and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Fund Board into a single Tertiary Education Funding Authority.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has said the proposed authority would be responsible for coordinating funding for university, college and TVET students, catering for tuition, accommodation and living expenses under one streamlined framework.
By Masaki Enock
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