Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei has found himself defending the government’s new university funding framework, which has sparked widespread concern due to increasing fees and what many students call unfair band classification. The Variable Scholarship and Loan Funding model, introduced in May 2023 by President William Ruto, aims to prioritize financial aid for the most vulnerable students while distributing resources more equitably.
Under this model, students are placed into five bands based on household income. Band 1 students qualify for up to 70% government scholarships, whereas Bands 4 and 5 receive 40% and 20% respectively. However, many students have reported being wrongly categorized into higher bands, forcing them to pay unaffordable fees or rely heavily on fundraising efforts.
Speaking to Citizen TV, Senator Sigei acknowledged the model’s flaws but maintained that the government is working on solutions to correct wrongful band placements. “These challenges that we experience in the banding model and release of funds spill over to having MPs fundraising every weekend,” Sigei said. He stressed that while the model is not perfect, it is a step toward a more sustainable education funding system.
Sigei also highlighted the government’s position that “it is never possible to provide for everything,” noting that the banding is based on household income to better manage capitation funds. He emphasized the model’s goal to ensure that “genuinely deserving students” receive support, though he did not provide clear details on how misclassifications would be fixed.
In Kenya, a household earning above Ksh.120,000 monthly is considered well-off, yet even such families struggle to fully fund university fees. The new system separates student banding from funding, requiring applications to both the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Universities Fund (UF), which has added complexity.
Student protests have escalated, with many threatening strikes, fearing exclusion from higher education. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has reassured learners that a revised funding model will be in place by September and that Ksh.14 billion in government capitation will be disbursed to public institutions soon. He also urged parents and school heads to ensure students continue their studies uninterrupted while waiting for funds.
The university funding debate highlights the urgent need for a fair and transparent system that balances fiscal realities with students’ access to education.
