Ogamba defends new funding model, explains how it will benefit university and TVET students

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba defended the government's new funding model for universities and TVET students, explaining how it aims to benefit learners and alleviate financial burdens. Speaking in Embu on August 22, 2026, Ogamba announced the Universal Student Funding Model, set to replace the student-centred funding model introduced in 2023.

This reform aims to address the varying financial circumstances of students pursuing degrees at universities and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, ensuring that lack of fees does not hinder their education.

Ogamba highlighted that the new model will fund programs based on individual students and the cost of their respective programs, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach as in the previous Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) model. The DUC model, which covered up to 80% of university programme costs, often left universities with financial constraints and mounting debts. By 2022, public universities had accumulated nearly Ksh67 billion in debt due to funding shortfalls.

Under the proposed Universal Student Funding Model, stakeholders and partners will collaborate to mobilize sufficient resources to fully support each student entering tertiary institutions. This collaborative effort aims to secure a diverse range of funding sources, including scholarships and loans. Repayment of loans will commence one year after students secure employment.

However, the proposed framework has sparked debate among students and education stakeholders, particularly concerning classification criteria and the adequacy of funding for students from low-income households. Ogamba emphasized that the reforms aim to make higher education more accessible and financially sustainable while ensuring no student is denied an opportunity due to financial barriers.

The government asserts that these changes will enhance universities and TVET institutions' financial positions by aligning funding more closely with students' needs and the costs associated with their programs.