NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has promised that students in universities, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions and the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) will have sufficient government funding from January 2027 under a proposed higher education financing framework.
Speaking in Kabati, the President said he had returned proposed legislation to Parliament and urged lawmakers to pass a new law requiring the government to provide adequate resources for students pursuing higher education.
“Nimesema from January 2027 all our students in university, TVET, KMTC, tutakua na pesa ya kutosha,” Ruto said, promising that the government would provide sufficient funds for learners across the institutions.
He said the proposed changes would shift the focus from parents’ financial capacity to students’ academic ability.
“Masomo yote ya university, KMTC ama TVET isitegemee mzazi, itegemee akili ya mtoto ya kusoma,” he told residents.
The President’s remarks signal another push to overhaul the country’s higher education funding system, which has faced criticism over the cost of education and uncertainty surrounding government support.
Parliament Holds Key to January Rollout
Ruto said the proposed legislation would require the government to set aside enough money to support students in universities, TVET institutions and KMTC.
The January 2027 timeline, however, depends on Parliament completing the legislative process and the government putting the new funding arrangements in place.
The President has made similar commitments in recent months, saying the proposed reforms would prevent students from missing out on higher education because their parents cannot afford the fees.
The government’s proposed changes are linked to the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, 2026, which seeks to consolidate aspects of student financing currently handled by the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), the Universities Fund and the TVET funding agency.
The proposed framework is intended to streamline funding for students across the institutions, although its final structure and implementation will depend on the legislative process.
What the Promise Means for Parents and Students
Under the current student-centred funding model, university financing combines government scholarships, student loans and household contributions, with the level of support informed by an assessment of financial need.
Ruto’s proposed changes seek to reduce the extent to which a student’s access to higher education depends on their family’s financial circumstances.
