Imagine receiving your university admission letter without worrying about how you’ll pay your tuition fees. For thousands of Kenyan families, that has always been one of the biggest challenges after KCSE results are released. That could soon change.

President William Ruto has announced a proposal that would see the government fully pay tuition fees for all students admitted through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) to public universities, colleges and TVET institutions, beginning with the September 2026 intake. If approved by Parliament, it would become one of the biggest changes to higher education funding in Kenya in decades.

What Is Changing?

Under the proposed system, every student placed in a public university, college or TVET institution through KUCCPS would have their tuition fees fully covered by the government.

Unlike the current funding model, students would no longer be grouped into different funding bands based on their family’s income. Instead, all government sponsored students would receive the same tuition support, regardless of their financial background. 

Why Is the Government Making This Change?

The proposal marks a major shift away from the Student Centred Funding Model introduced in 2023.

That system aimed to distribute funding according to a student’s financial need. However, it faced widespread criticism after many students said they had been placed in the wrong funding bands, leaving them with higher fees than they could afford. Universities also raised concerns about funding gaps, while the model became the subject of legal challenges in court. (Pulse Kenya)

The government now says it wants to ensure that no qualified student misses the opportunity to study courses such as medicine, engineering or teaching simply because they cannot afford tuition.

Does This Mean University Will Be Completely Free?

Not quite.

The proposal only covers tuition fees, which are the costs of academic instruction.

Other expenses have not yet been fully addressed, including:

• Student accommodation
• Meals
• Transport
• Books and learning materials
• Personal upkeep

The government has indicated that parents will still be free to contribute if they choose, while Parliament is expected to provide more clarity on how these additional costs will be handled. 

What Happens to HELB?

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) is not being scrapped.

Instead, its role is expected to change. President Ruto has asked Parliament to amend the HELB Act so that the board, or any new financing arrangement, can continue supporting students with expenses that fall outside tuition fees. Exactly how this will work will become clearer once Parliament debates the proposed amendments. 

When Will the New Funding Start?

The proposal has not taken effect yet.

At this stage, it remains a policy proposal announced by the President. Before it can be implemented, Parliament must approve the necessary legal amendments.

If those changes are passed, the government plans to roll out the new funding system in time for students joining public universities, colleges and TVET institutions in September 2026. 

What This Means for Kenyan Students

If Parliament approves the proposal, thousands of families could see a significant reduction in the cost of accessing higher education. It would also signal a return to a universal funding approach, where every government sponsored student receives full tuition support regardless of household income.

For now, however, students and parents should remember that this is still a proposal. The final details, including how living expenses will be financed and the future role of HELB, will only become clear after Parliament completes the legislative process.

The coming weeks will therefore be crucial in determining whether this landmark proposal becomes reality for the September 2026 intake.