The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has released lists of institutions eligible for government scholarships and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funding under President William Ruto's administration's new student-centred funding model.

• 42 public universities and the Open University of Kenya qualify for both government scholarships and HELB loans.
• 30 private universities are eligible for HELB loans only, with no government scholarships.
• 272 public TVET colleges under the Ministry of Education are eligible for both government scholarships and HELB loans, aiming to boost technical enrolment.
• The government increased the HELB loan annual budget to Ksh41 billion for the 2025/2026 budget cycle, up from Ksh36 billion, with Ksh13 billion for tuition and Ksh16.9 billion for scholarships via the Universities Fund.

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has announced the 1st National Career Conference and Exhibition 2026 to guide students on higher education and career choices. This comes as students await the opening of the placement portal for university and TVET applications after the 2025 KCSE examinations.

• The three-day conference will run from January 27 to 29, 2026, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
• Over 100 institutions, including public and private universities and TVET colleges, will participate.
• For the first time, Kenya Utalii College courses will be accessible through KUCCPS, as announced by KUCCPS CEO Agnes Wahome.
• KUCCPS will run on-site clinics during the conference to assist students with placement applications.

President William Ruto has issued a directive ordering all chiefs and local administrators across Kenya to ensure every child transitioning to Junior Secondary School (JSS) reports to school immediately, irrespective of fees or uniform status.

• The directive emphasizes 100 per cent transition from primary to junior secondary education under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
• President Ruto issued the order during the NYOTA Capital Disbursement at Kinoru Stadium, Meru.
• Chiefs are instructed to collaborate with school heads, parents, and education officials to identify and ensure no child is left behind due to financial or logistical hindrances.

The Commission for University Education (CUE) has issued a warning against enrolling in unaccredited institutions, publishing an updated list of 16 institutions unauthorized to operate as universities in Kenya.

• CUE flagged 16 institutions for operating unlawfully and 20 other unlawful student recruitment agencies.
• Qualifications obtained from這些 institutions will not be recognised in Kenya.
• Students are advised to verify accreditation status via the cue.or.ke website before applying, and to report suspicious institutions directly to CUE.

Kenya's Ministry of Education, led by CS Julius Ogamba, has issued directives for the immediate and unconditional admission of all Grade 10 learners to senior secondary schools, following President William Ruto's instructions.

• All Grade 10 learners must be admitted to their respective senior schools immediately, regardless of fee payment status or lack of new uniforms.
• Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba ordered that learners without new uniforms can attend in their junior school uniforms.
• School heads are instructed to trace unadmitted learners by January 21, 2026, working with sub-county education directors and government officers.
• The collection of admission fees for any public senior secondary school has been immediately revoked.
• President William Ruto reiterated that no child should be denied access to education due to unpaid fees, during the Nyota Capital Disbursement event in Meru County on Thursday, January 22.
• Parents have lamented about additional charges beyond prescribed requirements, with some revealing expenses of at least Ksh40,000 for uniforms and beddings.