With just two weeks to go before universities reopen for the new academic year, thousands of students and parents are gripped by anxiety over fees, even as the government insists all is well.
The uncertainty follows a Ministry of Education announcement that fees for first-year students will range from Sh5,814 to Sh75,000 per semester, as part of efforts to lower the cost of higher education.
Although the fee directive was welcomed as a relief, many universities have yet to update their online portals to reflect the new rates, leaving incoming students unsure of the exact amounts payable during registration.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, in a circular dated 15 August, explained that student contributions would vary depending on the cost of the programme enrolled in and each student's assessed financial need. "Following the government directive to lower the cost of university programmes, the fees payable per semester will range from a minimum student contribution of Sh5,814 to a maximum of Sh75,000," he added.
