The government has disbursed Sh23.16 billion to support 802,159 university and TVET students across the country.
In a statement released on Friday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said the funds were disbursed through the Universities Fund and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).
The Universities Fund released Sh4.1 billion in scholarships to public universities, while HELB disbursed Sh19.06 billion. Out of this, Sh7.6 billion went to tuition and Sh11.46 billion to student upkeep.
Ogamba said upkeep funds are sent directly to students’ designated payment channels as they report to their respective institutions. He urged students to log in to their Higher Education Funding portals to confirm their disbursement status.
To accommodate first-year students, the deadline for applicants has been extended. “To ensure that no student is left behind, the Universities Fund and the Higher Education Loans Board have been instructed to extend the deadline for first-year applicants to September 14, 2025,” the CS said.
He assured parents, guardians, and learners that the government remains committed to keeping higher education accessible.
“The Government will continue to provide the requisite funding to ensure that higher education remains accessible and affordable and that no student is left behind on account of financial limitations,” he said.
The disbursement is expected to ease pressure on students and families as institutions reopen. The announcement comes at a time when many students have been waiting for funding to cover tuition and personal expenses.
Ogamba reaffirmed the government’s pledge to strengthen financial support mechanisms in higher education, stressing that no eligible learner would miss out due to financial barriers.
The disbursement is part of a broader effort to support learners in line with the new higher education funding model, which seeks to combine scholarships, loans, and parental contributions to cushion households while strengthening institutions of learning.
