University Fund Chief Executive Officer Edwin Wanyonyi has defended the new student financing model, explaining that delays in disbursing funds are linked to the time required for verifying student enrolment data.
He said the checks are essential to ensure money goes only to those who have actually joined universities.
“The key thing before we disburse funds is to make sure that the students are actually joining the university because the money follows the student,” Wanyonyi said during an interview on Citizen TV’s Daybreak on Friday.
He disclosed that the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has already released Sh21 billion in loans, while the Universities Fund has issued Sh4.2 billion out of the Sh16.9 billion allocated for grants. According to him, a presidential directive now requires student details to be verified before every semester to avoid future disruption.
Wanyonyi outlined several changes under the new financing model, including a drop in annual agriculture programme costs from Sh324,000 to Sh194,000, while medicine has been cut by about 38 percent. Household contributions have been capped at Sh150,000 a year, with the most vulnerable students qualifying for full scholarships.
“Agriculture programme cost has dropped from Sh324,000 to Sh194,000 per year, while medicine has been reduced by 38 percent,” he said.
He added that the government is redesigning the funding framework to make it more cost-efficient by factoring in each university’s potential to generate its own revenue.
“We are redesigning the funding model to cut costs by considering factors such as each university’s ability to generate internal income. The aim is to ensure more students can access support, with those most in need receiving the highest assistance,” he explained.
The CEO noted that the government is working with universities to improve awareness among students about the financing process.
“We are also working with universities to extend application windows and improve students awareness, so that everyone understands the process and can apply on time,” he said.
He further assured that the reforms are geared toward guaranteeing equity, with scholarships targeted at needy learners and loans available to expand access.
“The government is committed to ensuring that needy students get scholarships while loans support broader access,” Wanyonyi stated.
He highlighted that the system has moved from placing students into categories to assessing them individually. “Each student is handled independently, and the level of support depends on the household’s circumstances,” he said.
On cases of missed deadlines, Wanyonyi said steps were being considered to reopen application windows.
“We are considering reopening the window to ensure even students in remote areas get a fair chance,” he noted.