Over 26,000 students have lodged appeals against the new university funding model, requesting a reassessment of their financial categories. These students and their families are seeking to be placed in funding bands that better reflect their financial situations.
The Universities Fund has pledged to assist students throughout the appeal process and has encouraged them to continue attending classes while their cases are reviewed.
The funding model is also facing legal challenges, with activists filing a lawsuit to halt the means testing instrument, which they argue is discriminatory and unfair to students from lower-income backgrounds. Now in its second year, the model has encountered significant opposition from civil society groups, student leaders, and political figures, including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who, along with his supporters, has threatened to organize nationwide protests against it.
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Geoffrey Monari, CEO of the Universities Fund, has defended the model, stating that it was developed based on recommendations from a presidential working group. "Before this model was implemented, the presidential working party conducted a nationwide survey and received feedback indicating that our universities were not functioning optimally. The new model was developed in response to this feedback, aiming to improve how we support students," Monari explained.
Monari noted that the fund has reviewed nearly 1,000 appeals from students in financial need and has adjusted their funding bands where necessary. He added that the fund will use data from the National Educational Management Information System (NEMIS), collaborate with the Kenya Revenue Authority, and seek assistance from the national government and the Ministry of Interior to verify the claims and conduct background checks on students submitting appeals.
"This process is ongoing. We will keep the appeal process open and have invited the national government to help us verify students' information and their families' income. They will complete a form and provide us with feedback," he added.
During a recent town hall meeting with university students and stakeholders, President William Ruto defended the new model, emphasizing that the means testing instrument is designed to ensure equitable and adequate support for all students based on their financial needs.
Recognizing the concerns raised, the Universities Fund has extended the appeal deadline to December and remains open to constructive feedback from all stakeholders.
