Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has directed the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to extend the loan application deadline for university and TVET students from August 31 to Sunday, September 14. This extension offers an additional two weeks for applications, benefiting 802,159 students following the disbursement of Ksh23.1 billion in financial support.

• Ksh23.16 billion in financial support has been disbursed by the Universities Fund and HELB to 802,159 students.
• The deadline for first-year applicants has been extended to September 14, 2025 by directive of Education Secretary Julius Ogamba.
• HELB accounted for Ksh19.06 billion of the disbursed funds, while the Universities Fund provided Ksh4.1 billion in scholarships for public university students.

The Friends of Karura Forest (FKF) community trust is opposing a directive by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) that mandates all payments for gate entry, parking, and services be made exclusively through the government’s eCitizen platform. This move, effective from August 29, 2025, has sparked concerns over financial sustainability and alleged breaches of a long-standing joint-management agreement.

• FKF claims KFS has reneged on a 15-year arrangement, stating that entrance fees collected previously supported operations under a 20-year joint-management agreement.
• The Friends of Karura Forest (FKF) Community Forest Association (CFA) is the key organization involved, expressing concern about their ability to pay staff and contractors if all revenue goes to the government.
• Fees have reportedly increased with the addition of VAT and an eCitizen processing charge, significantly impacting Kenyan citizens and children who previously benefited from low entry rates.