President Ruto has announced that all students placed in universities and colleges will receive full government funding starting September 2026, pending Parliament's approval of HELB Act amendments.
President William Ruto has announced a major overhaul of Kenya's higher education financing model, declaring that every student who qualifies for admission to a university or college will now receive full government funding, regardless of their financial background.
Speaking on Tuesday, July 21, at State House in Nairobi, the President said the new arrangement will replace the current needs-based system and place the choice of any additional contribution squarely in parents' hands.
"Going forward, any student, so long as they have passed their examinations and they have been placed in a college or university, will get full funding for their higher education. It will be the choice for parents if they want to pay," Ruto said.
New Model to Take Effect in September 2026
According to the Head of State, the new funding model is set to take effect from the September 2026 intake, once Parliament passes the necessary legislation. This marks a departure from the existing Variable Scholarship and Loan Funding Model, which allocates support based on a student's assessed level of financial need.
Under the proposed directive, the government will shoulder the full cost of higher education for all students admitted to public institutions, with parental contributions becoming entirely voluntary. Ruto called on MPs to fast-track amendments to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Act to allow the new model to take effect in time for the September intake.
"Education Makes Us Equal"
The President framed the policy shift as central to Kenya's long-term development goals, arguing that quality education is the foundation of social equality.
"Countries that are ahead of us had high-quality education. Education was a central pillar. My team tells me that education makes us equal and has no equal. That is where we are taking this," he said.
Ruto pointed to cases where students from disadvantaged families are forced to abandon competitive and high-demand courses because they cannot afford the household contribution required under the current system.
"I want to implore Parliament to expedite amendments to the Higher Education Loans Board so that beginning September we can make sure that any child who qualifies for medicine does not fail to study medicine because their parents cannot afford to pay the household contribution," he reiterated.
Government to Consult Widely Before Implementation
Despite the announcement, Ruto indicated that the proposal will undergo further review before full implementation. He said the government will study the plan carefully, engage with its recommendations, and consult widely with stakeholders before finalising the rollout.
"As government, we shall now study this proposal carefully. We shall engage with its recommendations, consult widely and once that process is done, I will communicate the way forward as we shape Kenya's next long-term vision," he said.
If Parliament approves the required amendments, the government will fully finance higher education for all eligible students admitted to universities and colleges beginning September 2026.