By August 16, 2024, the total admission letters for the first year of university had reached 104,158 students out of those who sat for the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education. This followed an announcement by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba that universities were working on new admission letters for the first batch of 125,893 students applied for loans and scholarship under the student-centred financing model. The ministry directed all varsities to ensure letters were dispatched by August 19, 2024.
Latest statistics show Kenyatta University tops the list, with 6,532 admission letters, followed by Maseno University with 6,336 letters, Kisii University 5,975, University of Nairobi 5,780, JKUAT 5,568, and Chuka, which has 4,006. Others are Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, with 4,990 admission letters, and Moi University, with 4,580 admission letters.
The new university funding model of the government is geared to meet the differential needs of the students. Under this model, students would be divided into five different bands, each band deciding the quantum of government financing, scholarships, loans, and contribution by households.
Under Band I, the government finances 95%, and in TVET, the government finances 92.5%. The students in this band receive 70% in scholarships and 25% in loans, while households are to contribute 5%. Students in this category also get an upkeep allowance of Ksh60,000. In TVET institutions, students in this category get a 70% scholarship, 22.5% in loans, and 7.5% is covered by households, with an upkeep of Ksh18,600.
Band 2: 90% university financing; 88% TVET. Scholarships, 60%; loans, 30%; households, 10%. Students get upkeep of Ksh55,000 in universities and Ksh17,600 in TVET.
Band 3: The government finances 80% at the university education level and 82% at the TVET level. Scholarship, 50%; loan, 30%; household, 20%. Upkeep allowance: Ksh 50 000 in universities and Ksh 15,600 in TVET.
In Band 4, 70% of the funds are provided by the government with regards to university and 78% to TVET. Scholarships and loans cover 40% and 30%, respectively with 30% contributed by households. Students upkeep in universities is Ksh. 45,000 and Ksh. 14,600 for TVET.
Band 5 receives the lowest proportion of government financing towards students’ university educations at 60% and 73% for TVET. Scholarships and loans will each cover 30%, while households contribute 40%. Those in this band will receive an upkeep of Ksh40,000 while in university and Ksh13,600 while in TVET.