The government has successfully placed 310,502 students into various institutions of higher learning across Kenya, including universities, the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, and teacher training colleges. This was officially announced by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba during a media briefing.
The placement exercise, conducted by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), targeted the 2024 KCSE candidates and eligible applicants from previous years. Ogamba revealed that the process was implemented in two phases. The first phase catered to applicants joining KMTC, national polytechnics, and TVET institutions for the March and May intakes, while the second phase focused on students applying to universities and teacher training colleges for the September intake.
Out of the 965,501 students who sat the 2024 KCSE, 244,563 attained a mean grade of C+ and above, qualifying for degree programmes, while 706,148 qualified for placement in TVET institutions. Ogamba emphasized that there were sufficient placement opportunities—986,137 in total—to accommodate all applicants.
In a move to expand access, the government has established new institutions, including Kabarnet and Nyandarua University Colleges, additional KMTC campuses such as West Pokot, and teacher training colleges in Northern Kenya. These expansions aim to support the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by equipping youth with industry-relevant skills.
In the teacher education sector, 20,786 applications were received against a capacity of 13,823, with 11,636 successfully placed. At KMTC, 52,725 applicants vied for 34,048 slots, with nursing attracting the highest interest. A total of 25,034 students have been placed at KMTC, including 6,750 with C+ and above.
To support student access, Parliament has allocated Sh500 million for KMTC students to apply for financial aid through HELB. Ogamba also confirmed that the Higher Education Fund portal is now open, ensuring no student is left behind.
The CS urged those yet to apply, especially for KMTC and continuous TVET programmes, to seize the ongoing opportunities for admission and funding.
