President William Ruto has shifted the start date for the government's promised free university and college studies for all students from September 2026, stating that the new funding model will be operational from around January 2027.Speaking in Kimana, Kajiado County, on Thursday, September 3, during a development tour of the area, Ruto said the new funding model will be operational starting next semester.According to the Head of State, the new arrangement will cover students in universities, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, colleges and the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC)."Now, the education of all our children, from college to TVET, KMTC and universities, from the next semester, there is no student who will be sent home because of school fees," Ruto said.The latest announcement from the President signals that the government has shifted the planned rollout of free tertiary Education from September, following earlier announcements.The new statement means students who had been expecting the government funding arrangement to take effect from September may now have to wait until the following semester.Speaking on Tuesday, July 21, at State House in Nairobi, Ruto announced that all students who qualify for admission to universities and colleges will henceforth receive full government funding for their higher Education, marking a major shift in Kenya's higher education financing policy."Going forward, any student, so long as they have passed their examinations and they have been placed in a college or university, will get full funding for their higher Education. It will be the choice for parents if they want to pay," Ruto said.The delays are likely due to delays in the discussion and voting on the Tertiary Placement and Funding Bill 2026 in parliament.It is worth noting that the free university proposal is contained in the bill, which is currently before parliament.The House needs to discuss it and hold public participation sessions to gather public views before voting on it. After it is passed, the bill will then be presented to the President for assent.The latest announcement by the President also comes hours after the Ministry of Education called on first-year students to continue applying for the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Universities Fund, as the bill is being debated.According to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Oganmba, applications will continue to be processed under the current Student-Centred Funding Model while Parliament deliberates on the bill. "For the avoidance of doubt, it is notified for the general information of the public that applications for funding for first time applicants will be considered and processed in accordance with the current Student-Centred Funding Model," the CS explained.He added, "Appropriate transitional mechanisms to the Universal Access and Funding Framework shall be implemented once Parliament passes the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, 2026."
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