Kenya’s higher education sector is experiencing remarkable growth, with university enrollment reaching 670,000 students, as medicine, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and education emerge as among the most popular courses.
Speaking on the Sema na Spox Bonga na Gava podcast on Thursday, May 14, Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala noted that the rising enrollment figures demonstrate a growing belief that university degrees remain a vital bridge to job opportunities and financial stability.
“We have about 670,000 students in all our public and private universities at the moment. The five most popular courses are medicine, nursing, law, ICT-related courses, and education,” she said.
According to Dr Inyangala, the growing interest in these courses reflects the current direction of the global labour market, which increasingly prioritises skilled professionals in technology, healthcare, and education to drive development.
“The shift in course preferences among university students reflects a changing global trend where healthcare professionals, teachers, and technology specialists are becoming increasingly essential in modern economies,” said Inyangala.
The PS noted that today’s students are taking a more calculated approach to education by prioritising degrees that provide practical skills and clear career pathways. Fields such as healthcare and technology, she said, are witnessing increased demand because they offer flexible employment opportunities in both local and international job markets.
Acknowledging the growing number of students seeking higher education, the PS assured Kenyans that universities have enough capacity to accommodate the rising enrollment.
“For example, this year, universities had a capacity of 323,000, while the eligible students were about 268,000. So you see, we have all the capacity,” the PS explained.
Dr Inyangala also addressed issues relating to research financing, partnerships, and innovation. She highlighted the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, established by President William Ruto in March 2025, as a key driver in advancing the country’s research capabilities through close collaboration with the State Department for Higher Education.
“The State Department for Research and Innovation is responsible for stimulating ideas, but the doers of this research are domiciled in universities. So we provide the manpower, we provide the infrastructure, while they stimulate ideas and partnerships,” Inyangala explained.
She further noted that various universities allocate seed funding aimed at mentoring scholars during the early stages of their research careers.
“Individual universities set aside seed funding to mentor young academicians who are just starting their research journeys, to build those skills and learn how to write award-winning proposals,” said Inyangala.
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The PS advocated for stronger partnerships to maximise international funding opportunities. She highlighted that university research initiatives contributed KSh5 billion during the last financial year, bringing the total amount raised through appropriations and aid to KSh11 billion.
“When I mentioned that universities raised KSh11 billion in appropriations and aid in the last financial year, KSh5 billion came from research activities,” the PS said.
By Frank Mugwe
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