CS Ogamba Clarifies New University Fees & Student Placement Amid Outcry
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has addressed confusion over the new university fees after the government announced a 40% reduction in student payments earlier this month.
At the beginning of August, Ogamba confirmed that the government would slash tuition fees across all university programs. However, the rollout has faced delays and inconsistencies, leaving many students and parents worried as the new semester approaches.
Speaking on Monday, Ogamba explained that the delays in issuing official confirmation letters were mainly caused by late submissions from some universities.
“Everything was ready by Friday, August 15. The challenge is that universities only started uploading student data recently. Some were behind because of the weekend, but the process should be finalized this week,” Ogamba said.
With the September–November semester around the corner, many families remain anxious since they have not received clear communication on how much they need to pay.
One student said:
“I applied for HELB and a government scholarship. I was told my application was successful, but I don’t know the exact amount I’ll receive because of the new fee changes.”
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At Kisii University, some students even threatened to suspend their studies until they receive confirmation of the new charges. According to them, the cuts appear to affect only specific programs, leaving others uncertain.
“Some courses haven’t reflected the 40% cut. Until we see the changes applied, we can’t be sure the reduction is real,” a student remarked.
Ogamba reassured students that the delays were temporary and would not affect their admission or learning.
The government explained that the fee cut is part of a student-centered funding model aimed at expanding access to higher education. Under this plan, students are grouped based on financial need. Vulnerable students will receive more government support, while families with greater ability to pay will contribute more.
Applications for this funding are done through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal. However, the government noted that because it receives thousands of applications daily, not all students are guaranteed support.
CS Ogamba Clarifies New University Fees & Student Placement Amid Outcry
