Speaking at
State House in Nairobi, Ruto said any student who passes exams and gets placed
in college or university will receive complete funding from September 2026,
with parents free to add more if they wish.
This replaces the 2023 Student-Centred Funding
Model, which based aid on household needs and led to student protests over high
costs amid funding shortfalls like HELB's Sh56 billion against a Sh112 billion
request.
The plan awaits parliamentary approval, drawing praise from supporters like MP George Peter Kaluma and mixed reactions from critics questioning funding sources and timing before the 2027 election.