Kenya Universities Increase Fees Structure for Freshers

Universities Increase Fees for Freshers Despite Ministry Directive

The sharp increase in tuition has alarmed parents and guardians of students who plan to enrol at public universities in September.

Although the 32 public universities had requested permission from the government to increase annual tuition from Sh16,000 to Sh24,000, some have increased tuition by more than sixfold.

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) released the 2022–23 students’ course placement results for the upcoming academic year last week.

Before students submitted their applications, all universities were instructed to list the course fees and available spaces.

Higher Education PS In a circular dated April 4, Beatrice Inyangala additionally asked the institutions to provide the Universities Funding Board with cost data for each program.

In reference to the President’s declaration during the unveiling of the new University Funding Model, Inyangala stated that universities will be required to declare and make public the actual expense of their programs.

Despite this, some universities have increased tuition costs after students have applied.

For instance, a student enrolling in the Bachelor of Arts program at Machakos University will be required to pay Sh110,000 in the first semester and Sh73,600 in the second.

A student pursuing a Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science and Technology) at Laikipia University will pay Sh244,800 in their first year, according to the university’s fee structure.

The cost has been divided into Sh125,900 for the upcoming first semester and Sh118,900 for the next semester.

“No student shall be registered without payment of at least 50 per cent of the first semester,” states the letter.

Geoffrey Monari, the chief executive officer of the Universities Fund, stated that no student would quit their education due to a lack of fees.

Monari explained that the distinction lies in universities making their fees public, which the government has been covering. He noted that the financial load carried by the government becomes evident from these figures. Monari added that the government will continue to cover 80 per cent of the fee under the new sponsorship model.

Government-sponsored

South Eastern Kenya University charges Sh249,300 for a Bachelor of Education (Science). In the 2023/24 academic year, pupils will pay Sh126,900 for the first semester and Sh122,400 for the second.

Bachelor of Science (Communication and Public Relations) and Bachelor of Education (Science) first-year students at the University of Kabianga are expected to pay Sh244,800, which is divided into Sh125,750 and Sh119,050 for the first and second semesters, respectively.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Dedan Kimathi University will cost a government-sponsored student Sh340k, with Sh157,450 and Sh182,550 for the first and second semesters, respectively.

The first-year tuition for a Bachelor of Science (Computer Science), Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Engineering, and Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering is Sh306,000.

The structure of Rongo University indicates that Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Tourism Management, and Hotel and Hospitality Management will cost Sh204,000 per year.

Bachelor of Science (Nursing) and Bachelor of Science (Clinical Medicine and Community Health) students at Kirinyaga University pay Sh275,000 per year, payable in three equal payments of Sh91,800 per semester.

At the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, engineering and technology students must pay Sh171,600 and Sh165,000 for the first and second semesters, respectively, for a total of Sh336,600 per academic year.

Bachelor of Arts (Drama and Theatre studies with IT) students at Maseno University will be required to pay Sh108,000 for the first semester and Sh95,400 for the second semester, for a total of Sh204,000 per year.

The tuition range at Embu University is between Sh76,000 and Sh137,000 per semester, or between Sh183,000 and Sh275,000 per year.

According to the new funding model, funding is centred on students rather than institutions.

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