Kenya Cuts Public University Fees in Major Education Overhaul

• Jul 31, 2025

Starting September 1, 2025, tuition fees in all public universities in Kenya will be significantly reduced following a major government reform.

The Ministry of Education has announced a sweeping reduction in fees for all academic programmes under the new Student-Centred Funding Model. This landmark move, aimed at making university education more affordable, follows months of consultations with students, parents, and education stakeholders.

In a circular issued to vice-chancellors and principals of public university colleges, Principal Secretary for Higher Education Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala confirmed the fee cuts and outlined the new tuition structure.

“The Government has lowered fees payable by students across all academic programmes,” said Dr. Inyangala. “This bold step reaffirms our commitment to ensuring affordable, accessible, and quality university education while maintaining the financial sustainability of our institutions.”

The new fee schedule, which affects 14 academic clusters, introduces substantial reductions across the board. For example:

Clinical Medicine students will now pay between KSh 22,371 and KSh 75,000 per semester.

Nursing and Clinical Medicine programmes will cost between KSh 14,400 and KSh 57,600.

Business and Education (Arts) students will pay between KSh 7,525 and KSh 30,101.

The lowest fees apply to Humanities and Social Sciences, ranging from KSh 5,814 to KSh 23,256.

Public universities have been instructed to update their admissions and finance systems to reflect the new charges. According to the Ministry, students' education costs will be met through a mix of reduced tuition, government scholarships, and student loans based on each learner’s financial background.

Dr. Inyangala called on university leaders to support the implementation of the reforms “efficiently, equitably, and in the best interest of Kenyan students and families.”

This reform is seen as a crucial step toward increasing access to higher education, especially for students from low-income households. It also marks a shift in the government’s approach to funding universities, prioritizing both affordability and sustainability.

The circular was also shared with top government officials, including Felix Koskei, Chief of Staff at the Executive Office of the President, and Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, underscoring the importance of the initiative.

These reforms support Kenya’s Vision 2030 by aligning the country’s higher education system with its national development goals and building a stronger human capital base.