A total of 238,714 applications for higher education scholarships and loans have so far been received, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has revealed.
This according to Machogu implies that 3,608 placed in the universities through the KUCCPS and another 26,790 at the TVETs are yet to apply.
At least 269,112 students are expected to join the universities while some 238,714 are to join the TVETs.
"This number is expected to rise after the KUCPPS validates the data of the students who have transferred to different degree programmes or universities," said Machogu during a press conference Thursday.
The application is set to close on October 7 after a one-month extension.
The CS at the same said firm instructions have been issued to the institutions to admit and keep students who have reported "even in cases where they do not have fees".
"So far 121, 367 (86.6 percent) of the 140, 147 students have reported to universities that have commenced studies for the 2023-24 academic year," said Machogu.
Admissions, to TVET institutions, are conducted on a rolling basis, he added.
For the continuing students, the CS announced that Sh10.5 billion had been disbursed as of October 4 under the old funding model out of the Sh51.1 allocation.
This is set to cover tuition and upkeep loans for 206, 123 students in both levels.
Each of the benefitting students in university receives a minimum loan of Sh37,000 and a maximum of Sh60,000.
"Each successful TVET trainee is awarded an average of Sh40,000 per annum," he said.
Machogu pointed out that in September, Sh8.4 billion as capitation to students in public universities and Sh441 million for continuing students in private universities was released.
On the other hand, a total of Sh1.3 Billion was released as capitation to continuing trainees in various TVETs.
