First-year university students face chaos over upfront payments after fee reductions

Concerns have arisen among first-year university students reporting to campus, as many remain uncertain about the exact fees to pay following the government’s directive to reduce higher education costs.

On July 31, 2025, the Ministry of Education announced a reduction in fees for all programmes across Kenyan universities.

In a memo issued by Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala, the government said the decision followed consultations with students, the public, and other education stakeholders.

"In direct response to concerns raised by students and their families, the government has lowered fees payable by students across all academic programmes," the memo to vice chancellors of public universities and principals of constituent colleges stated.

Affordable

Inyangala explained that the rationalisation aims to ensure “affordable, accessible and quality university education” and said the reduction would support the financial sustainability of higher learning institutions.

Universities were expected to adopt the new fee schedules from September 1, 2025, for both first-year and continuing students.

However, as students began reporting on Monday, August 18, many expressed confusion about the exact fees payable.

"The memo stated that fees shall decrease. But now, for some courses, we are seeing these changes implemented, while for others, little has been done. Until the changes are fully visible, we cannot say fees have decreased," said Dickson Odhiambo, a university student.

"Initially, my fee arrears were so high, but they have reduced from around Sh400,000 to about Sh312,000," added Kennedy Owino, another student.

Upfront payments

Some students reported being asked to make upfront payments of up to Sh50,000 before admission, even as many await disbursement of loans from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).

At the University of Nairobi (UoN), students said they were required to clear registration fees ranging from Sh23,000 to Sh50,000 as a condition for enrolment. Previously, government-sponsored students were admitted first, with fees settled later once HELB support was processed.

Parents and guardians said the sudden policy shift has strained household budgets.

"We were used to a situation where government-sponsored students only paid the balance after HELB settled the main fees. But now we are at a crossroads. I don’t know if my son will report to university. Life is becoming tough," said a parent of a UoN student.

Other Topics To Read

• Education
• Helb
• Higher Education Loans Board
• university fees
• Student-Centred Funding Model
• First-year university students
• Higher Education PS Beatrice Inyangala
• First-year university students face chaos over upfront payments after fee reductions
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Fees vary by course, with parents reporting Sh30,000 for economics, Sh50,000 for medicine, and Sh48,000 for actuarial science. Hostel accommodation averages Sh10,750 per semester, or roughly Sh2,500 per month.

Delays in HELB funding

University officials attributed the upfront demands to delays in HELB funding and ongoing reforms in higher education financing, stressing that the policy applies across public universities, not just UoN.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba defended the new model, stating that semester fees would now range from Sh5,814 to Sh75,000 depending on the programme. He said the new structure would make universities more sustainable and ensure government subsidies are distributed fairly.

Despite these assurances, students and parents say the immediate demand for lump-sum payments has caught them unprepared, prompting appeals for the government to reconsider the timeline. Many fear missing admission deadlines as they scramble to raise the required funds.

Parents argue that while the government’s decision to cut fees is commendable, the lack of coordination between universities and the ministry is causing confusion.

The Ministry of Education has urged students and parents to remain calm as universities update their systems. Ogamba acknowledged delays but insisted the reforms would ease the financial burden on families.

"We are aware of the anxiety among parents and students. Universities are in the process of aligning their systems with the Student-Centred Funding Model. No student will miss out on education because of these delays," he said.

HELB Chief Executive Officer Geofrey Monari echoed this, noting that funds had already been disbursed and would reflect in the system before students report.

"Universities are expected to reconcile their fee structures accordingly," he said.