The government has released Sh23.16 billion to support more than 802,000 university and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students across the country.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba announced the disbursement on Friday, saying the funds had been released through the Universities Fund and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB). The Universities Fund allocated Sh4.1 billion in scholarships to public universities, while HELB disbursed Sh19.06 billion to students.
Of the HELB allocation, Sh7.6 billion was directed to tuition while Sh11.46 billion was provided for student upkeep. Ogamba emphasized that upkeep funds had already been credited directly to students’ designated payment channels to help them settle into their institutions as they reopen.
He urged students to log into their Higher Education Funding (HEF) portals to confirm the status of their disbursements, adding that measures were in place to ensure timely access to the funds.
To further ease the transition for first-year students, Ogamba announced that the deadline for applications had been extended to September 14, 2025. “To ensure that no student is left behind, the Universities Fund and HELB have been instructed to extend the deadline for first-year applicants,” the CS said.
The release of the funds is expected to ease financial pressure on households struggling to meet the rising costs of education. Ogamba reassured parents, guardians, and learners that the government was committed to making higher education accessible and affordable.
“The Government will continue to provide the requisite funding to ensure that higher education remains accessible and affordable and that no student is left behind on account of financial limitations,” he noted.
This disbursement forms part of the government’s broader higher education funding model that integrates scholarships, loans, and parental contributions. The model aims to cushion families while strengthening the financial sustainability of institutions of higher learning.
The announcement comes as universities and TVET institutions reopen for the new academic calendar, offering relief to students who had been anxiously awaiting support to cover tuition and personal expenses.
