List Of Bursaries, Loans And Funds Sharing Billions Of Shillings As Calls For Free Education Heat Up

• Kenyan public and political leaders are questioning the current approach to education funding
• Several education funds are currently allocated monies by the National Treasury, including the HELB Loan (KSh 32 billion), among others
• The speaker of the National Assembly has instructed the clerk to develop a legislative proposal that could establish a unified structure for managing public bursaries and scholarships

Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has more than three years of financial, business, and technology research and reporting expertise, providing insights into Kenyan and global trends.

The Kenyan public and political leaders have been questioning the country's approach to education funding.

The recently introduced higher education funding model has sparked debates on the possibility of consolidating government-funded education funds to provide free education.

Should education be free at all levels?

Kisii senator Richard Onyonka and his Busia counterpart Okiya Omtatah have been actively calling for a re-evaluation of the education funding system.

Senator Onyanka argued that the current Ministry of Education's budget is equivalent to what President Mwai Kibaki used to run the entire country during his first two years in office.

He questioned why the funds that once managed the nation can't now support the Education Ministry and provide free education, suggesting that much of the money ends up in people's pockets.

Bursaries and education funds

Apart from the money allocated to the Ministry of Education, the National Treasury also funds several education funds.

Senator Okiya Omtatah shared these bursaries and the billions of shillings allocated, arguing that they should be consolidated and the money redirected to provide free education.

1. HELB Loan – KSh 32 billion

This fund provides loans to students in higher education institutions. It aims to support students' financial needs during their academic journey and is repayable after the completion of studies.

The loans are currently being disbursed under President William Ruto's new funding model Higher Education Funding (HEF), which was unveiled in May.

2. NGAAF Bursaries – KSh 1 billion

The National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) provides bursaries to support students from vulnerable groups, such as women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

3. NG-CDF Bursary – KSh 20 billion

The National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) offers bursaries to students in secondary schools, colleges, and universities. It is distributed through constituencies across the country.

Notably, the High Court has found NG-CDF unconstitutional, as reported earlier by TUKO.co.ke.

The three-judge bench found that the NG-CDF undermined the principles of devolution enshrined in the Constitution as well as the separation of powers between the executive and the legislature.

Although they found the 2015 Act, last amended in 2003, to be unconstitutional, they stated that abruptly halting the act would not serve the interests of the nation or justice since there are short, medium, and long-term projects currently being implemented under the fund and allocations have already been made for ongoing projects in the current financial year.

Therefore, they ruled that the act and its associated programs will continue to operate until June 30, 2026, after which they will cease.

4. Presidential Bursary – KSH 3 billion

This bursary is managed by the Office of the President and is targeted toward students who come from very needy backgrounds to ensure their access to education.

The Presidential Secondary School Bursary offers financial support to high school students facing economic hardships.

Additionally, the Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development, along with the Presidential Bursary Scheme for Orphans and Vulnerable Students, and the Higher Education Funding initiative, provide financial aid to learners in need.

5. County Governments Bursary – KSh 30 billion

County governments provide bursaries to students within their jurisdictions in various wards.

6. Universities Fund – KSh 20 billion

This fund supports public universities in Kenya, providing financial resources for academic programmes, infrastructure, and operational costs.

Calls for the consolidation of these scattered education funds have heated up in recent months.

Notably, the Speaker of the National Assembly directed the Clerk of the National Assembly to formulate a legislative proposal establishing a defined structure for the administration of public bursaries and scholarships.

Ruto forms committee to review university funding model

In other related news, President Ruto established a National Committee to review the controversial new university education funding model after public outcry about its effectiveness.

The funding model was designed to provide equitable access to higher education through scholarships and loans, but its Means Testing Instrument (MTI) has been criticised widely.

The committee will consult stakeholders in the education sector, including industry experts and lobby groups, and will hold public consultations to gather input from students.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke