Ruto Promises Full Government Funding for All University and College Students

President William Ruto has announced that the government is abandoning the differentiated higher education funding model in favour of a universal funding system that will guarantee full financial support for every student admitted to colleges, Kenya Medical Training Colleges (KMTCs), and universities.

The President said the move is aimed at ensuring that no Kenyan student is denied access to higher education because of their family background, adding that the government has already tabled amendments before Parliament to facilitate the transition to the new funding model.

“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.

Shift from Differentiated Funding Model

The Head of State acknowledged that the differentiated funding model introduced to promote equity had failed to achieve its intended objectives, particularly after government funding to universities fell significantly below the promised levels.

“We have been trying to grapple with how to fund our higher education in colleges, in our Kenya Medical Training centres and in our universities,” he said.

Ruto explained that universities struggled financially because the government was unable to sustain the funding levels initially envisioned under the previous model.

“We tried the differentiated model. I think the vice chancellors here know. It didn’t work because it made most of our universities almost close down. While we promised 80 percent funding, we went down to 40 percent, and most universities suffered,” he said.

Also Read:PSC Announces 131 Job Vacancies Across Ministries and Public Universities

Ruto Says Universal Funding for Every Qualified Student

Ruto said the government had initially attempted to balance costs by introducing a mixed financing structure that required contributions from parents alongside government scholarships and student loans.

“We worked on what we thought was equity, where we said parents will contribute a small portion, we will give a portion of loan, and we will give a portion of scholarship. That creates equity, but it’s not good enough,” Ruto stated.

According to the President, the government has now opted for a universal funding framework that will eliminate financial uncertainty for students who qualify for admission into higher learning institutions.

“Now we are moving to universal, under the amendments we have taken to Parliament,” he announced.

He explained that under the proposed system, every student who successfully completes secondary school examinations and secures placement in a recognised college or university will receive full government funding for their studies.

“So going forward, any student, so long as they have passed their exams and they have been placed in a college or a university, each one of them will get full funding for their higher education,” Ruto said.

The President added that while parents would still be free to support their children’s education financially, government funding would remain available even where parents are unable or unwilling to contribute.

“It will be the choice of parents if they want to pay. But if parents don’t want to pay, we now have a model that will pay for every child,” Ruto added.

Also Read:KUCCPS Reopens Degree Applications for Students Who Missed 2022 to 2026 University Placement

Education as a National Development Strategy

Ruto said the decision reflects the government’s long-term commitment to building a highly educated population capable of driving Kenya’s economic transformation.

He maintained that investing in higher education is essential if Kenya is to compete with countries that have achieved significant economic and social progress through quality education.

“We are doing it because we want to be deliberate. Countries that are ahead of us, that we want to emulate, had high-quality education,” the President said.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for instant news updates

CMU African graduates during their 11th graduation. PHOTO/CMU Web