Ruto at Four: University funding: Who is paying for higher education?
Kenya's government has implemented a new student-centered funding model for higher education based on a Means Testing Instrument. The system categorizes students into five bands to determine the distribution of scholarships and loans based on household income.
Why it matters
Illustrates a significant shift in public policy regarding educational accessibility and the financial burden of university tuition in Kenya.
Graduands during a past graduation ceremony. /FILE
The government has taken pride in the student-centred higher education funding model, crediting it for increased access to university and tertiary-level education by Kenyan youth regardless of their households' financial status.
Introduced in May 2023 by President William Ruto, the customised funding model supports students through tuition and upkeep via scholarships and loans based on a learner's needs, determined using a Means Testing Instrument (MTI).
The MTI evaluates variables such as family income, background, school type and family size and places students into specific bands, ranging from vulnerable and extremely needy to needy and less needy.
Vulnerable and extremely needy students receive the highest percentage of government scholarships and low-interest loans, covering up to 95 per cent or more of the costs, while less needy families shoulder a larger portion through household contributions and smaller loan allocations.
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