Higher Education Funding Crisis Under Scrutiny

By Fredrick Kioko, 

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education has called for urgent measures to address the persistent funding challenges facing Kenya's higher education sector, warning that the current budget framework is undermining the implementation of the Higher Education Funding Model.

Meeting at Bunge Towers on Thursday, the committee resolved to convene a joint session with the National Treasury and the Ministry of Education to harmonize budget allocations with the funding model and ensure universities receive adequate financial support.

Officials from the State Department for Higher Education, the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), and the Universities Fund appeared before the committee to present the implementation status of the 2025/26 budget.

Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala told lawmakers that while the Higher Education Funding Model is operational, inadequate budget alignment remains its biggest obstacle.

Lawmakers also raised concerns over the ballooning pending bills owed by public universities. The State Department revealed that the institutions had accumulated KSh100.3 billion in pending bills as of January 2026. The ministry said it is prioritizing settlement of the debts, halting stalled projects and exploring alternative revenue sources to prevent further accumulation.

The committee further questioned HELB over its loan allocation criteria amid limited funding, with Members demanding a transparent and fair system to ensure deserving students are not locked out of higher education due to financial constraints.

The committee said the engagements are part of its oversight role to ensure public funds allocated to universities are used efficiently to improve access, equity and the quality of higher education in Kenya.