NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has promised to introduce a new legal framework by December 2026 to protect university, Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) and TVET students from being sent home over unpaid fees from January 2027.
The proposed legislation is expected to change how higher education is financed, with the government seeking to ensure that students can continue their studies regardless of their parents’ financial circumstances.
Speaking during an interdenominational church service at Nyamaiya Stadium in Nyamira County on Sunday, November 8, Ruto said the government was working with Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Chief Executive Geoffrey Monari to address challenges affecting the funding system.
He said the new law would provide a framework for supporting learners across universities, KMTC and technical and vocational training institutions.
“We are now preparing a new law. We are ensuring that no Kenyan child attending university, KMTC or a TVET institution is sent home because their parents cannot afford to pay fees,” Ruto said.
The President said the legislation would be completed before the end of December to allow the new arrangements to take effect in January.
Parliament holds key to January 2027 changes
The proposed reforms come amid ongoing efforts to overhaul Kenya’s higher education financing system, which has faced concerns over funding shortfalls and uncertainty among students and parents.
The government has been pursuing the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, 2026, which seeks to consolidate the management of student financing by bringing together the Higher Education Loans Board, the Universities Fund and the TVET funding structure under a single authority.
The proposed framework is expected to streamline the administration of scholarships, loans and other financial support for learners in tertiary institutions.
However, the President’s latest assurance remains a policy commitment rather than an enforceable legal guarantee until Parliament completes the legislative process and the new law is enacted.
Ruto has made similar promises in recent months, including during engagements in October, when he said the government wanted changes to take effect from January 2027. The repeated assurances have raised expectations among students seeking clarity on how the new system will address unpaid fees and funding gaps.
The President maintained that access to education should not depend on a family’s financial position.
“I said that all our children must have an opportunity to pursue education, whether they come from wealthy or poor families. Education must provide equal opportunities to children from rich and poor backgrounds,” he said.
Ruto cites education investments
The Head of State also defended his administration’s record in the education sector, saying the government had employed 100,000 teachers and constructed 23,000 classrooms across the country.
He acknowledged that the Competency-Based Curriculum had experienced challenges but said the government had taken steps to address them through the transition to Competency-Based Education and Training.
Beyond education, Ruto announced several development projects for Nyamira County, including a Sh1 billion international stadium and a Sh1.7 billion Level Five hospital.
He said the proposed hospital would expand access to specialised medical services and reduce the need for residents to travel outside the county for treatment. Construction is expected to begin next year, with the national government working alongside the county administration.
On infrastructure, the President said 121 kilometres of tarmac roads were under construction in Nyamira and directed contractors handling stalled projects to resume work. He added that contractors who failed to meet their obligations would be replaced.
He also announced that Sh250 million had been released to support the County Aggregation and Industrial Park, with another Sh150 million set aside for infrastructure and shared facilities.
Ruto’s Gusii region tour also includes engagements in West and North Mugirango constituencies, where he is expected to commission a constituency digital hub, launch road upgrades and preside over the groundbreaking of the proposed Magwagwa Stadium.
