President William Ruto’s proposal to provide full government-funded scholarships for college and university students has been welcomed by many Kenyan parents struggling with the rising cost of higher education.

Speaking at State House in Nairobi, President Ruto said every student who qualifies for entry into college or university in Kenya would receive full government funding.

“Every student that qualifies for entry into college or university will fully be funded by the government,” the President said.

To enable the proposed funding model to take effect, President Ruto said Members of Parliament would need to amend the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Act before the September 2026 intake.

The proposed framework would mark a shift from the current higher education funding model, which provides financial support based on a student’s level of need. Under the new proposal, all qualifying students would receive government scholarships regardless of their social or economic background.

President Ruto raised concerns over the current system, noting that some students from financially disadvantaged families are forced to abandon competitive courses due to difficulties raising their required household contributions.

The proposed amendments to the HELB Act await approval from Parliament ahead of the September intake, where 294,000 students who sat for the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination secured placement in various college and university programmes.

Under the current higher education funding model, students are categorized into five groups based on financial need: vulnerable, extremely needy, needy, less needy, and able-bodied.

However, the accuracy of the categorization system has faced criticism, with concerns that some students from extremely disadvantaged backgrounds are placed in categories that do not reflect their actual financial circumstances.

The challenges surrounding the current funding framework have left some families struggling to meet education costs, with some students unable to continue their studies due to financial difficulties.

The proposed changes to Kenya’s higher education funding system are expected to attract public debate as stakeholders assess how the new model will affect students, families, and government spending.