Government boosts HELB funding to Sh41 billion
Ogamba said that disbursement of HELB loans for first-year university students will begin on August 15, in line with the reopening of universities
The government has increased annual allocation for the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to Sh41 billion up from Sh36 billion to ensure all needy students are covered, , a significant boost of Sh5 billion.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said that of this, Sh13 billion has already been released to support tuition, and upkeep for students while Sh16.9 billion has been allocated to the Universities Fund for scholarships.
He assured all Kenyans, especially students, parents, guardians, and our learning institutions, of the government’s strong and ongoing commitment to supporting access to higher education for all deserving learners.
Ogamba said that disbursement of HELB loans for first-year university students will begin on August 15, in line with the reopening of universities.
He added that the funds will be released in phases to ensure a smooth transition into university/ Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college and to help students settle into their academic journey without interruption.
In addition, the Universities Fund has begun disbursing first quarter scholarship funds for this FY 2025/2026 to all public universities.
Applications for loans and scholarships for 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) cohort placed by Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) is ongoing.
“As of today, 129,403 university students and 60,976 TVET trainees have successfully submitted their Scholarships and loan applications under the Student-Centred Funding Model (SCFM). The application portal remains open until 31st August 2025, and we encourage all eligible students who have not yet applied to do so before the deadline date.”
According to Ogamba, this academic year under the SCFM, HELB and the Universities Fund expect to support 201,695 first-year university students and over 237,000 TVET trainees in addition to 257,523 ongoing students. So far, the submitted applications represent 64 per cent of university applicants and 51 per cent of those expected for the September TVET intake, reflecting good progress. Processing of the already received applications are ongoing to ensure timely funds disbursement to students and institutions of higher learning.
The CS’s statement came as Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr Beatrice Inyangala announced that the government has reviewed downwards fees payable by students in public universities following recommendations by a presidential taskforce formed last year.
Under the ne structure, students enrolled for courses such as Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary medicine, and Pharmacy will cost a minimum of Sh12, 343 and a maximum of Sh75, 000 per semester.
Architecture will cost Sh12, 960 and Sh57, 888 while Engineering and Surveying students will pay between Sh14, 256 and Sh57, 024 per semester.
Built Environment and Design – Construction, Real Estate, Urban and Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture, Design, Computing will cost between Sh12, 960 and Sh51, 840 while Health Sciences, Nursing, Clinical Medicine (BSC.), Medical Medical Laboratory Science and Technology students will be required to pay between Sh14, 400 and Sh57, 600
Animal Science, Radiography, Sport Science. Medical Psychology, Physical therapy, Public Health, Environmental Health, Community Health and Development Sh13,082 – Sh52,326.
Food Sciences, Food Science and Technology, Food and Nutrition will cost between Sh11, 401 and Sh45, 603 per semester while Agriculture, Natural Resource Management and the Natural Environment, Wildlife Science and Management students will pay between Sh9, 729 and Sh38, 880.
Applied Sciences and Education (Science and Technology) – Education (Science, Tech, and Special Needs), Exercise and Sport Science, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences, Applied Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Applied and Technical Physics, Applied and Technical Chemistry, Applied and Technical Biology, Statistics, Actuarial Science, Financial Engineering, Environmental Science Sh11,628 – Sh46,512.
Basic Sciences (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology) and Basic Sciences (Geography) will cost between Sh10, 659 and Sh42, 636.
Applied Social Sciences and the Arts (Professional), Hospitality, Media and Communication Studies, Library and Information Studies, Business Information Technology, Sport Science and Management, Fashion Design, Interior Design, Music (B.Mus.), Civil Aviation Management, Maritime Management, Agribusiness Management, Theatre and Film Studies, Fine Art, Food Service and Management, Law will cost between Sh9, 690 and Sh38,760.
Business, Education (Arts) and Economics students will pay between Sh7, 525 and Sh30, 101.
The new will take effect on September 1 for both first-year and continuing students.
The shift followed an outcry from both students and parents over the huge amounts of fees they were required to pay directly to universities following their placement in various bands using the Means Testing Instrument (MTI) tool under SCFM that determines the level of funding they require in both loans and scholarships.
“This bold step reaffirms our commitment to ensuring affordable, accessible, and quality university education, while maintaining the financial sustainability of our institutions. Public universities are hereby directed to adopt the new fees schedule, effective 1st September, 2025 for first year as well as continuing students. All public universities are further directed to update their admissions and finance portals to reflect the revised fees of academic programmes,” said Inyangala in a statement.
“Public universities are notified that the entire cost of programmes will continue to be met through a combination of tuition fees, scholarships and loans based on the needs of individual students,” she added.
