Government Cuts University Fees for First-Year Students in Major Policy Shift

Nairobi, Kenya – The Ministry of Education has unveiled a revised fee structure for first-year students admitted through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), significantly easing the cost of higher education for thousands of families.

The new directive, announced by Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala, took effect on September 1, 2025, and lowers semester tuition fees to between Sh5,000 and Sh75,000 depending on the programme.

Relief for Parents and Students

PS Inyangala explained that the new system has brought down average semester payments to about Sh28,000—a figure notably lower than what most families spend on a child in high school. She said the adjustment responds to growing concerns over affordability, especially amid rising living costs.

The move follows months of public debate and anxiety over the financing model introduced in 2023, which relied on a mix of government scholarships, Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans, and household contributions. Many parents had expressed uncertainty over the system’s sustainability and transparency.

In late July, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei and Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba jointly assured the public that the government was committed to making university education accessible while maintaining quality standards. The fee review, they said, was part of that pledge.

Breakdown of the New Fees

Under the revised structure:

• Humanities and Social Sciences students will pay between Sh5,814 and Sh23,256 per semester.

• Clinical programmes such as medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine will cost between Sh22,371 and Sh75,000 per semester.

Universities have been directed to update their admissions and finance portals to reflect the changes. Each institution must also ensure that the combination of tuition, government scholarships, and HELB loans adequately meets individual students’ needs.

Broader Impact

The Ministry expects the new framework to:

• Increase access to higher education, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds.

• Reduce dropout rates, which have risen in recent years due to financial pressures.

• Safeguard quality and sustainability, with continuous monitoring to ensure institutions remain financially stable while delivering competitive education.

Officials have indicated that further adjustments may be made after reviewing the policy’s rollout and feedback from universities and students.