President William Ruto has affirmed the government's commitment to fully finance all students who qualify for higher education, signaling an imminent overhaul of the current funding system.
This announcement comes as students continue to apply for university, TVET, and college funding through existing platforms, despite persistent technical difficulties.
Portal Challenges Affecting Students
Several students have reported problems accessing the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) portal to revise course selections. Lovian Nyaroba from Kisii described repeated login failures, while cyber café operator Daniel Momanyi highlighted frequent disruptions affecting both KUCCPS and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) systems.
Issues include delayed activation codes sent via email and intermittent system downtimes, complicating students’ efforts to secure funding.
Funding Reforms Await Parliamentary Approval
Currently, students must apply separately for loans and scholarships under the existing funding framework. President Ruto reiterated that this will change once Parliament enacts the Tertiary Placement and Funding Bill, 2026.
The legislation aims to unify various funding agencies, such as HELB and the Universities Fund, into a single entity named the Tertiary Education Funding Authority (TEFA). This body will streamline higher education financing and enable universal access.
Government's Commitment to Accessible Education
"Every qualified student will pursue their desired course without financial barriers," President Ruto emphasized. "Admission and funding will depend on merit, not parental income."
HELB’s CEO confirmed that applications for this year’s funding will proceed under the current system until the new law is passed and implemented.
