PREMIUM Varsity fees reality check for Ruto The President did not explain the source of the extra funds. Education Just now Listen

However, the announcement by President William Ruto that a Bill establishing a universal higher education funding model is before Parliament has triggered questions over the proposal as well as the source of funds and its sustainability.

According to CS Ogamba, the proposed Tertiary Placement and Funding Bill, 2026 seeks to overhaul the country's tertiary financing system by merging the Higher Education Loans Board, Universities Fund and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Fund Board into a single Tertiary Education Funding Authority.

Ruto said the that "final version" of the funding model proposal was before Parliament and urged MPs to fast-track its approval so that students joining university for the first time in September can benefit from full funding.