- A total of 115,892 first-year students successfully applied for scholarships by November 29, 2023.
- Machogu said all universities will receive the scholarship portions for their respective students on December 4, 2023.
Image: PCS
The government has released Sh3.9 billion in scholarships for first-year students in public universities, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has announced.
Machogu said the amount is the first tranche of financing to cover scholarships for Government-sponsored first-year students in public universities under the New Higher Education Funding Model.
“Beneficiaries of the scholarships are those who successfully made their applications through the Higher Education Financing portal (www.hef.co.ke) that was launched on August 31, 2023,” he said in a statement.
A total of 115,892 first-year students successfully applied for scholarships by November 29, 2023.
The Universities Fund will disburse the Sh3.9 Billion directly to individual universities for the successful applicants to cover their tuition fees based on the student’s individual needs under the New Funding Model.
The CS said all universities will receive the scholarship portions for their respective students on December 4, 2023.
“The release of the scholarship amount brings to Sh9.2 Billion the amount of money the Government has so far released to first-year students under the New Higher Education Funding Model that President William Ruto launched on May 31, 2023,” Machogu said.
Early this month, the Government, through the Higher Education Loans Board, disbursed Sh5.3 million for loans to first-year students.
Machogu said the allocation of funds to students was based on a reliable scientific method, Means Testing Instrument (MTI), which determined the student’s level of financial need to ensure they are supported adequately.
First-year students who sat the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Examination in 2022 are the first cohort to benefit from the new model.
“The Ministry of Education wishes to express the Government's unwavering commitment to promoting access to university education, and providing financial support to all deserving students,” Machogu added.
Under the new model, students falling under the vulnerable and extremely needy band will qualify for 100 per cent government funding.
Funding for their studies will be through scholarships and loans.
Those from needy and less needy households will get 93 per cent of government funding, with the students bearing 7 per cent of the tuition costs.
Needy students joining universities will receive government scholarships of up to a maximum of 53 per cent and loans of up to 40 per cent.
Their households will only pay for seven per cent of the cost of their university education.