DP Kindiki: HELB funding raised by Ksh.5B to support needy students

Speaking in Laikipia East Constituency on Saturday, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki stated that the government remains committed to providing quality, accessible, and affordable education to all Kenyan children, while aligning learning outcomes with the demands of a dynamic global economy.

“The Government continues to prioritise the provision of quality, relevant and affordable education for all the children of Kenya and equipping them with skills to prepare them for the ever-changing society,” said the Deputy President.

In response to public concern about the rising cost of higher education, Kindiki announced that university fees have been reduced by 15 to 40%, depending on the course of study.

“To address concerns raised by university students, parents and other stakeholders, the Government has reduced university fees… This is a critical step in easing the financial burden on families,” he said.

The capitation to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has also been increased by KSh5 billion—rising from KSh36 billion to KSh41 billion—to enhance student access to loans and bursaries.

According to the Deputy President, the government has made significant gains in education infrastructure over the last two decades.

“To build on the successes in the education sector secured in the last 22 years, we have constructed 23,000 classrooms and initiated the construction of 1,600 science laboratories to facilitate learning in the STEM pathway,” Kindiki noted.

Teacher recruitment has also seen a sharp rise, with 76,000 teachers already hired and an additional 24,000 set to be recruited by the end of the year—bringing the total number of new hires to 100,000 within three years.

The Deputy President further highlighted the expansion of the TVET sector, where enrollment has more than doubled from 297,000 in 2022 to over 700,000 today, crediting deliberate policy and administrative reforms for the growth.

“We are enhancing the capacity of TVETs by availing modern equipment, recruiting tutors, and rolling out a flexible modularised curriculum,” said Kindiki. “We are also implementing a dual training policy and the Recognition of Prior Learning system to certify those with skills acquired outside formal education.”

Kindiki was speaking during a graduation ceremony for over 500 learners in Laikipia East, many of whom received certification through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework—an initiative that formally validates experience-based competencies.

“I was pleased to join more than 500 graduands who have acquired skills from TVETs in Laikipia East Constituency. This is how we ensure no skilled Kenyan is left behind simply because they lack formal papers,” the Deputy President stated.