NAIROBI, Kenya – Thousands of first-year students and their parents have been left in limbo after the government’s recently announced review of tuition fees—expected to slash costs by between 15 and 40 percent—failed to reflect in many universities’ fee structures as admissions begin this week.
The Ministry of Education had assured that the adjustments were finalized, but most universities have yet to update their portals, creating uncertainty over how much learners are required to pay.
Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba said the government had already shared the necessary data with universities, but the process of uploading it into student accounts was still ongoing.
“On Friday the data got ready. This is the time universities are now feeding that data, and in a number of institutions, the process has not been completed. That is where we are having confusion, with students saying they cannot yet see the changes,” Ogamba said.
The delays are also affecting continuing students. At Kisii University, some students say the reductions are yet to appear in their accounts, while others report receiving partial relief.
In Nyeri, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology has told students that updated fee structures will only be issued once the government confirms individual allocations.
CS Ogamba, however, reassured learners that no deserving student would be left behind. He said a five-week appeal window has been created for those who may have received incorrect allocations.
“Where there is an error or incorrect information, there will be room for appeal so that fees can be reviewed. The purpose of the student-centered model is to ensure that every student who deserves government support receives it, and we are determined to see that through,” he said.
The new funding model, unveiled last year, replaced blanket subsidies with targeted support based on need, with students placed into four bands of scholarship, loan, and household contributions.
