The Kenyan government is set to transition university funding from the national budget to a market-based model starting October. This move aims to create a more sustainable financing system for tertiary education.

• University funding will be removed from the national budget from October and moved to a market-based financing model.
• The initiative is spearheaded by President William Ruto's administration, with pronouncements from Chairperson of the President's Council of Economic Advisors David Ndii.
• This change is linked to a proposed bill that would scrap existing funding bodies like HELB and create a single agency, the Tertiary Education Funding Authority (TEFA), by September 2026.

Kenyan schools have received Sh18.5 billion in capitation for the third term, but this disbursement still leaves them short of the annual allocation.

• Schools have received 72% of the expected annual capitation, with a shortfall of approximately Sh6,102 per learner.
• The disbursement was announced by President William Ruto as schools reopened for the final term of the 2026 academic year.
• The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA), represented by its chairman Willie Kuria, welcomed the funds but highlighted the remaining deficit.

Kenyan teacher unions are expressing outrage after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula revealed that teacher employment letters are being distributed to Members of Parliament (MPs) by State House, leading to claims of political patronage.

• 20,000 permanent and pensionable teaching vacancies have recently been advertised by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
• Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), and Kenya Teachers in Hardship and Arid Areas Welfare Association (Kethawa) officials condemned the practice.
• MPs reportedly sell these TSC appointment letters, with one instance mentioning a bribe of Sh400,000 for a child's employment.

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has officially opened loan applications for Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) students pursuing Certificate and Diploma courses for the 2026/2027 academic period.

• The application window is open from August 21 to September 30.
• The key organization involved is the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), in collaboration with the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).
• This marks a significant development as KMTC students will now access structured government funding through HELB, a benefit previously largely exclusive to university students.