University enrolment hits record 707,150 as Kenya faces growing pressure on resources

Kenya’s university population has crossed the 700,000 mark for the first time, with student enrolment rising by 12.5 per cent in a single year, a new report by the Commission for University Education (CUE) shows. The number of students enrolled in universities rose to 707,150 in 2025, up from 628,431 in 2024, according to the report. “Kenya’s university enrollment expanded markedly from 559,620 students in 2023 to 628,541 in 2024 and 707,150 in 2025. This represents a 12.3 per cent growth between 2023 and 2024, followed by a stronger 12.5 per cent increase between 2024 and 2025, and an overall 26.4 per cent rise over the three years,” reads the report. The rapid growth has also narrowed the gender gap in university education, with female enrolment increasing at a faster rate than male enrolment.