Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has outlined plans by the government to widen access to tertiary education through major changes to the way students receive financial support for their studies.
Ogamba said the proposed reforms are intended to ensure that learners admitted to universities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, and other tertiary institutions are not prevented from pursuing their education because of financial difficulties.
The Cabinet Secretary explained that the proposed Tertiary Education, Placement and Funding Bill, 2026, is designed to establish a new legal framework for financing students. The government, he said, wants to create a system that guarantees eligible learners access to the financial assistance required to complete their programmes.
The Bill, which is currently being considered by Parliament, proposes separating student placement from the financing process. Under the proposed system, admission would be determined by factors such as academic merit and a student’s preferred programme, while applications for financial assistance would be handled separately.
Another major proposal in the Bill is the consolidation of several institutions responsible for student financing. The Higher Education Loans Board, Universities Fund Board and TVET Funding Board would be brought together under a new institution known as the Tertiary Education Funding Authority.
The Ministry of Education says the proposed authority would oversee various forms of tertiary education financing, including scholarships, loans and funding for institutions. The consolidation is expected to reduce duplication and create a more coordinated financing system.
In the meantime, Ogamba has directed that applications from first-time university students and TVET trainees should continue to be handled through the current Student-Centred Funding Model while Parliament considers the proposed legislation.
He explained that the transition to the proposed Universal Access and Funding Framework would not begin until Parliament approves the Bill and it becomes law. Once implemented, students at different levels of study would eventually be transferred to the new financing system.
The proposed reforms come as public universities continue to face financial challenges. Ogamba previously informed Members of Parliament that public universities were experiencing a funding gap estimated at nearly KSh28 billion under the existing financing arrangements.
Parliament’s Departmental Committee on Education has also called on members of the public to submit their views on the Bill as lawmakers continue examining its provisions before deciding on the next stage of the legislative process.