Kenya’s higher education landscape is set for transformation after the government unveiled a significantly reduced tuition fee structure for public universities and constituent colleges. Effective from September 1, 2025, this decision marks a pivotal moment in efforts to make education more affordable and equitable.
Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala announced that the revised fees are the result of prolonged consultations with education experts, student leaders, and the general public. The new structure dramatically reduces the cost of pursuing university education, especially for students from low-income backgrounds.
Previously, students in fields like Medicine and Dentistry were required to pay up to Sh600,000 annually. Under the new framework, clinical students in these disciplines will now pay between Sh22,371 and Sh75,000, while pre-clinical students will pay as little as Sh12,960 and no more than Sh51,840. Similarly, engineering and architecture students, who used to pay as much as Sh396,000, will now pay between Sh14,256 and Sh57,888.
This shift comes as a beacon of hope for students such as Brian Odhiambo, an engineering student from Siaya County. “My dream was slipping away because my mother, who sells vegetables, couldn’t raise the money. Now, I can actually plan to graduate,” he shared.
Courses in humanities and social sciences—once among the least prioritized yet most expensive for students—have also seen major reductions. Tuition fees for subjects like literature, political science, and religious studies will now range from Sh5,814 to Sh23,256, a steep drop from the previous Sh144,000.
Inyangala emphasized that the government is committed to maintaining educational quality while ensuring financial viability for institutions. She added that scholarships and loans under the Student-Centred Funding Model will be adjusted to accommodate students’ financial realities.
This model, introduced in 2024, is designed to ensure that public investment in education is both responsive and accountable. Inyangala said universities are expected to promptly update their systems to reflect the new fees, making the transition seamless for incoming and continuing students.
The fee cuts are part of a broader initiative to align higher education with national development goals and social equity. According to the PS, the reforms underscore the government’s resolve to empower Kenyan youth through affordable, quality education that leaves no one behind.
