President William Ruto’s recent commitment to fully finance university and college education has sparked concern over Kenya’s higher education funding framework.
Ruto declared that any student admitted to a public university or college will receive full government funding, emphasizing that admission should be the sole barrier to accessing higher education.
However, this pledge contrasts sharply with the current trend of shrinking government support to public universities. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Economic Survey 2026, funding to public universities decreased from Ksh16.9 billion in the 2024/25 fiscal year to Ksh11.6 billion in 2025/26—a reduction of Ksh5.3 billion—at a time when government-sponsored student numbers surged by 81.6% to 355,140.
Funding Cuts Amid Rising Enrollment
Key institutions have experienced notable budget declines. The University of Nairobi’s allocation dropped to Ksh534.79 million, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology received Ksh474.83 million, and Egerton University’s funding fell to Ksh365.24 million, among others.
This raises concerns on how universities can maintain quality education with fewer resources despite accommodating more students.
Beyond Student Fees: Supporting Institutions
Ruto emphasized education’s role in national development, stating, “Going forward, any student, so long as they have passed their examinations and they have been placed in a college or university, will get full funding for their higher education.”
For this promise to be meaningful, funding must extend beyond tuition to cover essential university operations including faculty salaries, research, infrastructure, and learning resources.
The Budgetary Reality
Expanding access without adequate institutional funding risks overcrowding, delayed payments, mounting debts, and a decline in educational standards.
The success of the president’s pledge will depend on a sustainable financing plan that balances increased enrollment with sufficient budgetary support for universities.
Ultimately, the question is not just about the government’s ability to promise full funding, but whether it can realistically finance such an ambitious commitment without compromising quality.
