Government Slashes Public University Fees in Bold Higher Education Shake-Up
New student-centred funding model to ease financial burden for thousands from September 2025
The Kenyan government has announced a significant reduction in tuition fees across all public universities, offering financial relief to thousands of students and their families. The revised fee structure, set to take effect from September 1, 2025, will benefit both newly admitted and continuing students.
In a directive issued on Wednesday by Principal Secretary for Higher Education, Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, universities have been instructed to adjust their admissions and finance systems in readiness for the new academic year. The changes stem from the implementation of the Student-Centred Funding Model, a key component of ongoing education sector reforms.
“The Government of Kenya is pleased to announce a landmark rationalisation of public university fees based on the Student-Centred Funding Model,” said Dr. Inyangala in a circular addressed to university vice chancellors and management boards.
She noted that the move follows months of consultations with the public, students, and key stakeholders in higher education. It comes in direct response to growing concern over the affordability of university education in Kenya.
The Ministry of Education clarified that the cost of academic programmes will now be covered through a balanced approach involving tuition payments, government scholarships, and student loans. Each student’s level of support will depend on their individual financial situation.
Universities have been urged to roll out the new model efficiently and equitably to ensure no student is left behind due to financial hardship.
Dr. Inyangala also reaffirmed the government’s broader commitment to transforming higher education into a cornerstone of Kenya’s development agenda. She emphasised that affordability and access remain central to these reforms.
This policy shift comes amid broader discussions on education financing in the country. Appearing before the National Assembly’s education committee last week, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the government could no longer sustain free basic education due to growing enrolment and limited fiscal space.
However, President William Ruto swiftly countered that assertion, assuring Kenyans that free basic education remains a top government priority.
The reduction in university fees is being hailed as a crucial step toward easing the financial strain on families and increasing access to higher education nationwide.
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