NAIROBI, Kenya – The government has announced a sweeping reduction in university tuition fees for all academic programmes in public universities, a move hailed as a major step toward making higher education more affordable and inclusive.
The revised fee structure will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply to both incoming and continuing students, according to a directive from the Ministry of Education.
The changes are part of the government’s Student-Centred Funding Model, which was introduced to balance affordability for students with the financial sustainability of public universities.
“This bold step reaffirms our commitment to ensuring affordable, accessible, and quality university education,” said Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala in a circular addressed to university vice chancellors and college principals.
She said the decision follows months of consultations with students, parents, and stakeholders across the education sector, adding that the reforms directly respond to concerns over the rising cost of learning in Kenya.
New Fees by Programme
Under the new structure, degree programmes have been categorized and assigned minimum and maximum fees per semester, based on field of study:
- Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine: Sh12,343 – Sh75,000
- Architecture: Sh12,960 – Sh57,888
- Engineering and Surveying: Sh14,256 – Sh57,024
- Computing, Real Estate, Urban Planning: Sh12,960 – Sh51,840
- Nursing, Clinical Medicine, Medical Lab Science: Sh14,400 – Sh57,600
- Animal Science, Radiography, Public Health: Sh13,082 – Sh52,326
- Food Science and Nutrition: Sh11,401 – Sh45,603
- Agriculture and Wildlife Management: Sh9,729 – Sh38,880
- Education (Science), Biochemistry, Actuarial Science: Sh11,628 – Sh46,512
- Mathematics, Chemistry, Geography (B.Sc.): Sh10,659 – Sh42,636
- Hospitality, Media, Civil Aviation, Law: Sh9,690 – Sh38,760
- Business, Education (Arts), Economics: Sh7,525 – Sh30,101
- Public Administration, Languages, Social Work: Sh6,982 – Sh27,927
- History, Sociology, Literature, Political Science: Sh5,814 – Sh23,256
Universities have been instructed to update their admissions and finance portals to reflect the new rates ahead of the September intake.
Mixed Funding Model
The government clarified that tuition will be covered through a hybrid of student fees, government scholarships, and loans, tailored to each student’s financial need.
County-level and national systems are expected to work together to implement the changes.
“We count on your full cooperation to implement these reforms efficiently, equitably, and in the best interest of Kenyan students and families,” Inyangala added.
The Ministry described the policy as a landmark reform, positioning education as a key driver of national development.
By lowering financial barriers, the government expects thousands more students to access and complete university education, particularly those from low- and middle-income households.
