President William Ruto has directed all university Vice-Chancellors to allow students who are yet to complete fee payments to sit for their end-of-semester examinations.
Speaking during the Scott Christian University graduation ceremony in Machakos County on Friday, December 6, the Head of State urged Vice Chancellors to exercise patience as their institutions awaited the full disbursement of scholarship funds.
Ruto revealed that the move was part of a solution to the challenges faced by the universities during the transition from the previous funding model to the current student-centered funding model.
"Therefore I appeal to universities to allow students to sit for their end-of-semester examinations while awaiting the resumption of full disbursement once the government gives direction," Ruto said.
"As we navigate the challenges brought about by the student-centered higher education model, I urge universities to exercise patience and understanding with students," he added.
Ruto further ordered the heads of universities to take special care of all students by ensuring that no learner, regardless of their background, was denied the opportunity to learn, grow, or even succeed.
The Head of State assured Kenyans that the government would do everything to ensure that the recently introduced higher education funding model was fully implemented to eradicate any form of bias in funding students.
"I am very clear in my mind and have worked with all the Vice Chancellors to ensure that we have a model that makes university education accessible and puts a sound financial footing," Ruto remarked.
President Ruto's directive comes a week after several universities across the country commenced the end-of-semester examinations following the decision by the Universities Academic Staff Unions (UASU) to call off the lecturers' strike.
However, despite the commencement of the examinations, most students have since lamented being stopped from sitting their examinations due to fee balances.
In May 2023, President Ruto formally announced the introduction of the new funding model which was established to counter the challenges faced by universities due to massive enrollment and inadequate funding.
Under the new funding model, students are divided into five distinct income brackets, otherwise known as bands, each offering a different level of government support.
