President William Ruto has reaffirmed the Kenyan government’s dedication to ensuring all students are admitted to higher education institutions.
During his recent three-day tour of the Gusii region, Ruto expressed optimism about the Ksh.82 billion budget allocation, asserting that this funding will adequately support scholarships, grants, and student loans.
Despite this promise, the president did not address the Ksh.48 billion shortfall that threatens to exclude over 70,000 new students from receiving financial aid. Ruto criticized the misleading information provided by universities regarding course costs and demanded the withdrawal of those erroneous letters, calling for accurate communications to replace them.
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The Ministry of Higher Education requires approximately Ksh.130 billion this financial year to fully meet the demands for scholarships, grants, and loans. However, the current allocation leaves a significant funding gap.
A recent parliamentary report revealed that only Ksh.4.3 billion of the Ksh.13 billion needed for scholarships is available, covering just 32% of new students and leaving 73,793 students in financial uncertainty.
Additionally, the Higher Education Loans Board faces a Ksh.1.7 billion shortfall, potentially affecting 61,052 continuing students for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Despite these challenges, Ruto assured that no student would be excluded from higher education due to financial constraints, emphasizing the government's commitment to providing educational opportunities for all.
Although the Higher Education Loans Board received Ksh.31 billion from the latest supplementary appropriation bill, concerns remain about the government’s ability to address higher education institutions' financial pressures.
