Confusion over new funding model leaves thousands of university students stranded

The uncertainty has been attributed to the government’s decision to suspend the existing university funding model as it awaits the passage of the proposed Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, which is currently before Parliament.

As the university academic year gets underway, the transition in higher education financing has plunged thousands of students into a funding crisis, with learners from vulnerable households particularly affected.

Some students are yet to report to university due to their inability to raise the required fees and uncertainty over whether government funding will cover their costs.

In Nyamira County, Davin Kemunto is one of the students caught up in the uncertainty. She secured admission to Kisii University and applied for a Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loan, but says she has yet to receive any financial support.

"Nilikua nimeitwa Kisii University lakini wazazi wangu hawakuweza. Wazazi hawange-manage ku-deposit Ksh.20,000 ndio niingie, lakini sijui kama hiyo funding model inaweza nisaidie nisome for free. Nilikua naenda kusomea teaching ya secondary school," Kemunto stated.

At Machakos University, confusion has also gripped first-year students who reported about a week ago but are yet to receive financial support.

The students revealed that they are struggling to meet their basic needs as they await clarity on how their university education will be financed.

At Kisii University, the situation is similar, with continuing students lamenting delays in disbursements that have made it difficult for them to plan their studies and meet their expenses.

The students noted that the situation has been compounded by a lack of clarity over the applicable funding model and fee structure.

"Bado kuna confusion ingine kiasi. Tumejaribu ku-access portal kuangalia fee structure iko aje, imekuwa ngumu," Griffins Ouma, a Kisii University student, stated.

"Ingekuwa ya kitambo mtu angejua mambo yake. Kama saa hii niko confused, sijui fee nafaa kulipa ni kama ngapi, sijui hiyo ya government iko ama wamekula. Niko confused," Davis Orina, another Kisii University student, stated.

Speaking during a meeting with university chancellors on Monday, Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr Beatrice Inyangala said parents should take responsibility for the upkeep and accommodation costs of students while the government works on the new funding framework.

Inyangala said government disbursements to university students would resume once the proposed Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill is passed.

"The message that students join university as we wait the processing of the Bill has been taken very positively. Students who are vulnerable, very needy have been supported by universities to settle because most universities run a needy kitty," Inyangala stated.

The PS said universities had been encouraged to support students facing financial difficulties through their existing assistance programmes.

However, the proposed Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill is still at an early stage in Parliament, having only gone through the first reading and currently undergoing consideration at the committee stage.

This has left students and universities navigating an uncertain transition, with learners waiting for clarity on fees, loans and scholarships as the new academic year gets underway.