The government of President William Ruto has explained the new university funding model, which has been the subject of a massive reaction among Kenyans in recent days.
Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala revealed on Friday that the new funding model is grouped into five installments based on the family’s income level.
At the same time, the principal secretary described the distribution of the amount that each payment will receive in the form of scholarships and loans.
The bracket in which a student is located depends on the amount that the applicant has established as family income when applying for the scholarship.
The first tranche, the most needy group, consists of a family whose income does not exceed Sh5,995.
In this category, the government grant covers 70% of the costs while the loan covers 25%, bringing the total support to 95%. In this category, the family will pay 5% of the fees and the student will receive a maintenance loan from Helb of Sh60,000.
In the second category, the government has grouped families whose income does not exceed 23,670 Sh, but is above 5,995 Sh.
In this category, the government grant covers 60% while the loan covers 30%.
The family will pay 10% of the expenses. In this category, the student will receive a maintenance loan of Sh55,000.
In the third category, the government has classified families whose family income does not exceed 70,000 shillings, but is more than 23,670 shillings. In this category, the government grant covers 50% of tuition fees, while the loan covers 30%.
The family contributes 20% of the expected school fees to be paid. Students in this category will benefit from a maintenance loan of Sh50,000.
In the fourth category, the government has grouped families whose income does not exceed 120,000 shillings but is more than 70,000 shillings. In this group, the government grant covers 40%, while the loan covers 30%.
The family will pay 30% of the expenses.
In category 5, the government has grouped families that earn more than 120,000 shillings.
In this category, government pay 30% of expenses.
They will receive 30% of the fees as a loan while their families pay 40% of the fees. Education officer Julius Ogamba said on Friday that students who are not satisfied with the groups that have been placed can appeal through the higher education portal.
