The latest disbursement by the Universities Fund brings the total allocation from the National Treasury for the 2025/2026 financial year to Ksh.18.4 billion. The funds will cater for tuition fees for students who joined public universities in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The disbursement comes just days before the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Portal is expected to open for the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) cohort. Through the portal, newly admitted university students will apply for Universities Fund scholarships and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans.
Universities Fund Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Edwin Wanyonyi said the investment underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening higher education as a driver of national development.
“This investment affirms the role of universities in driving national development, expanding access to quality education, and empowering the next generation of professionals and innovators,” he said.
Dr Wanyonyi urged all students placed in universities through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) to apply for both scholarships and loans once the portal opens.
“I urge all KUCCPS-placed students to monitor the opening of the HEF portal and submit applications promptly. Students should apply for both scholarships and loans to reduce the burden of household contribution,” he said.
Since the introduction of the Student-Centred Funding Model in 2023, more than 400,000 students have benefited from Universities Fund scholarships, with the pioneer cohort expected to graduate next year.
Under the funding model, scholarships are awarded based on students’ financial need, with tuition payments made directly to public universities on behalf of beneficiaries to promote equitable access to higher education.
The latest release comes amid a sharp rise in demand for university education. The number of students qualifying for direct university admission has increased from 69,155 in 2017 to 270,715 in 2025, representing a 292 per cent increase.
To meet the growing demand, the government has increased scholarship funding from Ksh.18.4 billion in the 2025/2026 financial year to Ksh.30.8 billion in 2026/2027.
