JUST IN: Fully Funded Education System to Begin from January 2027, President Ruto Confirms

President William Ruto has announced that the Kenyan government intends to roll out a fully funded higher education system beginning in January 2027, in a move aimed at making university and other tertiary education more accessible to students across the country.

Ruto made the announcement during the national celebrations marking World Teachers’ Day at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani on Monday, October 5. He said the proposed funding arrangement would benefit students admitted to universities, technical colleges and Kenya Medical Training Colleges.

According to the President, the government has significantly increased its investment in the education sector. He noted that the national education budget has grown from KSh526 billion in 2022 to KSh784.5 billion in the current financial year. Funding allocated specifically to universities has also increased to KSh82 billion.

Ruto said the government was working toward establishing a financing framework that would ensure students receive the financial support required to pursue higher education regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.

“Through the proposed Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill 2026, we intend to ensure that every student admitted to a university, technical college, or a Kenya Medical Training College receives full funding,” Ruto said.

The proposed system is expected to address longstanding concerns over the cost of tertiary education and reduce the extent to which a student’s ability to continue with their studies is determined by their parents’ financial capacity.

During the event, Ruto also responded to concerns from teachers regarding career advancement and promotion opportunities. He said discussions surrounding the revised Career Progression Guidelines would be concluded within two weeks.

The President further urged the Teachers Service Commission to increase the number of teachers receiving promotions from the current 34,000 to 50,000. He said the government would provide additional financial resources to facilitate the proposed increase.

The announcements came as teachers, government officials and other education stakeholders gathered at Kasarani to commemorate World Teachers’ Day. The event provided an opportunity for the government to outline plans aimed at strengthening both basic and higher education while addressing concerns affecting teachers.

The proposed higher education funding framework will now depend on the progress of the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill 2026 and the government’s preparations for implementation in January 2027.

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