The Government of Kenya has officially announced a comprehensive revision of university tuition fees under the new Student-Centred Funding Model (SCFM).
The directive, signed and released by Julius Migos Ogamba, EBS, Cabinet Secretary for Education, and Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, CBS, Principal Secretary for Higher Education, comes after months of public consultation and stakeholder engagement.
The revised fee structure, which applies to both first-year and continuing students, is set to take effect from September 1, 2025. Public universities have been instructed to update their admission and finance portals immediately to reflect the new fees.
“This decision reflects the government’s unwavering commitment to providing affordable, accessible, and quality university education while ensuring the financial sustainability of public institutions,” said Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba in a statement from Nairobi.
What’s Changing?
Under the revised structure, fees for academic programmes have been significantly reduced across all clusters.
The cost of degree programmes will now be met through a combination of tuition, government scholarships, and student loans, determined by individual financial need.
For instance:
| Programme Cluster | Minimum (Shs.) | Maximum (Shs.) |
| Clinical Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine | 12,960 | 75,000 |
| Pharmacy, Architecture, Design | 12,343 | 57,888 |
| Nursing, Medical Laboratory, Health Sciences | 14,400 | 57,024 |
| Agriculture, Food Science, Environmental Studies | 9,720 – 13,082 | 52,326 |
| Education (Arts and Sciences), Applied Sciences | 11,628 | 51,840 |
| Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Business | 5,814 – 10,659 | 42,636 |
A Boost for Equity and Access
The Student-Centred Funding Model, introduced in 2023, reorients government support based on students’ level of need and programme costs.
The latest adjustments are expected to benefit thousands of families who have long struggled with rising tuition and living costs.
“We are transforming higher education into a true enabler of national development and social mobility,” said Dr. Inyangala. “This is a historic step forward in bridging access gaps and investing in the future of Kenya.”
All public universities have been instructed to comply with the new schedule and ensure that financial operations are aligned with the revised model. Admissions for the September 2025 intake will proceed under this new framework.
Universities will continue to receive differentiated government capitation, while the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) will be expected to expand access to loans in line with need assessments.
This fee reform is part of a broader government effort to modernize and rationalize Kenya’s higher education system, which has been grappling with funding shortfalls and ballooning student debt.
The Cabinet Secretary has called for full cooperation from university administrators, stakeholders, and the public to implement the changes effectively.
“We are building a system that is fair, forward-looking, and fit for purpose,” Ogamba emphasized.
As the nation gears up for the September semester, students and parents across Kenya will be watching closely to see how these sweeping reforms translate into real impact in classrooms and campuses.
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