The government has announced a significant reduction in tuition fees for all public university programmes under the student-centred funding model, offering financial relief to thousands of Kenyan families.
According to a directive issued by Principal Secretary for Higher Education Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala on Wednesday, the revised fee structure will take effect from September 1, 2025. The changes will apply to both new and continuing students across public universities.
The Ministry of Education said the decision followed wide consultations with students, members of the public, and other education stakeholders who had raised concerns about the rising cost of university education.
“The Government of Kenya is pleased to announce a landmark rationalisation of public university fees based on the Student-Centred Funding Model,” Dr. Inyangala said in a letter addressed to university management boards.
She emphasised that the fee cut is a direct response to the financial burden many students and their families have been facing, and is part of a broader plan to make higher education more affordable and inclusive.
All public universities have now been directed to update their admissions and finance systems to reflect the revised fees in readiness for the September 2025 intake.
The Ministry clarified that the total cost of academic programmes will continue to be covered through a mix of tuition fees, government scholarships, and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans, with individual student needs determining the level of support.
Universities have been urged to roll out the changes efficiently and fairly, with the government warning against any actions that could lock out students on financial grounds.
Dr. Inyangala reiterated the government’s commitment to transforming higher education into a pillar of national development, noting that equity, affordability, and sustainability remain central to ongoing education reforms.
The revised policy comes at a time when the government is seeking to streamline education financing amid increased enrolment rates and limited public resources.
Last week, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi told the National Assembly’s Education Committee that the current model of free basic education had become financially unsustainable. He cited rising student numbers and growing pressure on fiscal resources.
However, President William Ruto later dismissed the statement and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to free primary and secondary education, assuring the public that basic education remains a top priority.
The government now hopes the rationalised university fee structure will bridge financial gaps while ensuring more students can access quality higher education without undue hardship.
