The High Court has temporarily halted the new funding model for higher education, which was set to change how the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) allocates loans to students.
Justice Chacha Mwita issued the order on Thursday after a petition was filed by non-governmental organisations Kenya Human Rights Commission and Elimu Bora Working Group.
“Conservatory orders are issued against the respondents from implementing the new education funding model until hearing and determination of the petition,” he stated.
The new funding model faced a backlash from various stakeholders, including students and parents, leading to legal challenges and protests.
The government introduced the new model, tied to a means assessment tool, to replace the previous differentiated unit cost formula that has been in use since the 1990s.
Under the new framework, funding focuses on a student’s financial need, separating their placement in universities from how funding is provided.
This means universities and technical and vocational institutions will no longer receive direct block funding.
Instead, students will get financial support through scholarships, loans, and contributions from their households.
Following the furore about the funding model that has blocked more than 14,000 youth from starting their university studies in September, the government has formed a team of more than 100 people to review the new formula.
Nonetheless, some education experts have faulted the formation of the team, saying it was already obvious that the funding was problematic.
