The government has announced a reduction in university fees after a sustained outcry by various stakeholders.
In a July 30 memo addressed to all Vice Chancellors of public universities, Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala said the new fee structure follows wide consultations with the public and stakeholders in the education sector.
Under the changes, medical students will pay between Sh12,000 and Sh75,000 per semester while their engineering counterparts will pay between Sh14,000 and Sh58,000.
The changes are part of the student-centred funding model.
“In direct response to concerns raised by students and their families, the Government of Kenya has lowered fees payable by students across all academic programs,” Inyangala said.
She directed public universities to begin implementing the new fees from September 1, 2025 for both new and continuing students.
First Years are reporting from August 18.
Universities have also been instructed to update their admissions and finance portals to reflect the revised fees.
According to the new guidelines, the cost of academic programmes will be covered through a mix of tuition fees, government scholarships, and loans tailored to each student’s financial needs.
Stakeholders have consistently warned the government that increasing higher education fees was locking out thousands of students from low-income families.
