The uncertainty has triggered fresh pressure on the Government to explain when students who have already secured admission and completed registration will receive financial support.
The Elimu Bora Working Group is now calling for the immediate release of funds to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Universities Fund so that eligible first-year students can begin receiving support.
Elimu Bora Policy Advisor Boaz Waruku said the Government must act quickly to ensure students are not left struggling as the country transitions to a new tertiary education funding framework.
“First things first, let HELB and University Fund be given their grants so that they immediately disburse resources to those who have registered,” Waruku said.
Why first-year students are waiting for funding
The funding uncertainty comes as the Government prepares to move from the existing Student-Centred Funding Model to a proposed new framework that is expected to provide broader financial support to students in universities, colleges and TVET institutions.
President Ruto has promised that students joining tertiary institutions will no longer be required to pay education costs out of pocket under the new system.
However, the proposed changes are contained in the Tertiary Education, Placement and Funding Bill, 2026, which is still before Parliament.
That means the proposed system has not yet replaced the existing funding arrangements.
For now, the Ministry of Education has directed first-time applicants to continue applying under the current Student-Centred Funding Model as Parliament considers the proposed legislation.
Ruto's free university promise faces Parliament test
The Government's promise of fully funded tertiary education has generated significant expectations among students and parents, particularly those preparing to join universities and TVET institutions for the first time.
But education stakeholders say there is a growing gap between the promise and the situation students are experiencing on the ground.
Waruku said the focus should now shift from political announcements to legislation that guarantees students the promised support.
“We want parliament to legislate the right, not the promise. Right now we are rushing to ensure that the promise by the president bears fruit,” he said.
His remarks come amid reports that some parents have been forced to borrow money from informal lenders to meet education-related expenses as they wait for clarity on government funding.
For families already struggling with university fees, accommodation, transport and other costs, delays in funding could create additional financial pressure.
HELB funding deadline approaches
The Ministry of Education extended the deadline for first-time applicants seeking university and TVET funding to September 21, 2026.
The extension was intended to give eligible students who had not submitted their applications more time to do so.
The Ministry has maintained that applications made during the transition period will be handled under the existing funding model while the proposed new framework goes through the legislative process.
This means students joining tertiary institutions in the 2026/2027 academic year are currently navigating a funding system that could change once Parliament concludes consideration of the proposed Bill.
What happens to students already registered?
This is now one of the biggest questions facing first-year students.
The Elimu Bora Working Group wants HELB and the Universities Fund to receive their grants and immediately begin disbursing support to students who have completed registration.
The group argues that students should not be left waiting for Parliament to complete the legislative process before receiving assistance under the existing system.
The demand also places pressure on the Government to clarify how the transition will work for students who have already reported to their institutions.
Students and parents are therefore waiting for clear answers on when funding will be released, how much support they will receive and whether they will have to meet additional costs while the proposed framework is being debated.
Is university education free in Kenya from September 2026?
The Government has announced plans for a new tertiary education funding system that is intended to eliminate out-of-pocket payments by students.
However, the proposed framework is contained in legislation that is still before Parliament.
Until the new legal framework is enacted and implemented, first-time applicants continue to be processed under the existing Student-Centred Funding Model.
Will first-year students receive HELB funding?
Eligible first-year students are expected to be considered for financial assistance under the current funding arrangements.
The Elimu Bora Working Group is, however, calling for the Government to ensure HELB and the Universities Fund have the resources required to disburse support to students who have already registered.
What is the September 21 HELB deadline?
September 21, 2026, is the extended deadline for first-time applicants seeking funding for university and TVET education.
Students who have not yet applied are being encouraged to submit their applications under the current funding system.
The bigger question facing Ruto's funding plan
The immediate challenge for the Government is how to manage the transition without leaving students and parents to shoulder unexpected costs.
While President Ruto's proposed funding system has raised expectations among students, its implementation will depend on the outcome of the parliamentary process and subsequent government action.
For first-year students already admitted and registered, however, the issue is more immediate.
They are waiting for one thing: clarity on when their education funding will arrive.
And with the September 21 application deadline approaching, pressure is growing on the Government to ensure that the transition to the promised new funding system does not leave students stranded.
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