In a landmark policy shift aimed at easing the burden of higher education, the Kenyan government has significantly reduced tuition fees for all public universities and their constituent colleges. This move is expected to benefit thousands of students, particularly from underprivileged backgrounds, and comes just in time for the September 2025 intake.
Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala made the announcement, highlighting that the revised fee structure is a result of extensive consultations with stakeholders, including students and education experts. The government’s goal is to make education more accessible and affordable while maintaining institutional sustainability.
Under the new framework, tuition for courses such as medicine and dentistry has dropped from Sh600,000 annually to as low as Sh22,371 for clinical studies, with a maximum of Sh75,000. Pre-clinical studies now range from Sh12,960 to Sh51,840. Engineering and architecture, which previously cost up to Sh396,000, will now cost between Sh14,256 and Sh57,888.
These reductions have come as a major relief to students like Brian Odhiambo, a second-year engineering student from Siaya County. “I was about to quit school,” he said. “My mother sells vegetables and couldn’t afford the fees. Now that the cost is around Sh57,000, I can finally continue my education.”
The revised fees will be complemented by targeted scholarships and student loans under the Student-Centred Funding Model. This model assesses the financial need of each student to determine the level of government support required. Inyangala emphasized that no student would be left behind due to lack of finances.
Students in non-technical fields will also benefit. Programmes in the humanities and social sciences will now cost between Sh5,814 and Sh23,256, a dramatic drop from the earlier Sh144,000.
“The reduction is part of a wider plan to align university education with Kenya’s development agenda,” Dr. Inyangala stated. “This decision underscores our commitment to inclusive education that prioritizes students’ needs.”
As universities prepare to reopen, this announcement has renewed optimism across the country. It marks a critical step towards equitable education financing, ensuring that every qualified Kenyan has a fair shot at completing their university education without the crippling burden of exorbitant fees.
