The Kenyan government has announced a significant reduction in university fees across all public institutions. The revised fee structure, which takes effect on September 1, 2025, will benefit both new and continuing students under the Student-Centred Funding Model.
The decision follows months of consultations with stakeholders, including students, parents, and education experts. According to Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala, the reduction is a direct response to growing concerns over the affordability of university education.
“This bold step reaffirms our commitment to ensuring affordable, accessible, and quality university education,” said Inyangala in a circular to Vice Chancellors and Principals of Constituent Colleges. She added that institutions must now revise their admissions and finance portals to reflect the updated fees.
Under the new structure, tuition will be met through a blend of government scholarships, student loans, and direct tuition payments, tailored to each student’s financial need. The government emphasized the importance of implementing the reforms equitably to ensure fairness and sustainability.
Among the highlights of the new fees, high-demand programs such as Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy will now cost between Sh12,343 and Sh75,000 per semester. Engineering and Surveying programs are capped at Sh57,024, while Health Sciences and Clinical Medicine will range from Sh14,400 to Sh57,600. Architecture students will pay between Sh12,960 and Sh57,888.
Even traditionally costly programs in design, computing, and veterinary medicine have seen notable reductions, enhancing affordability for students from diverse backgrounds. Humanities and social science programs, which often attract a large student population, have been adjusted to between Sh5,814 and Sh27,927 per semester.
The Ministry of Education urged institutions to implement the changes promptly and fairly, reinforcing the government’s vision to position higher education as a driver of national development.
This reduction is expected to relieve thousands of families from the burden of rising university costs, making higher education more inclusive and achievable for the youth of Kenya.
