Kenya's higher education sector is facing a severe financial crisis, with a total debt of over Sh205 billion threatening its stability.

• The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) alone requires an additional Sh55.8 billion for the 2026/27 financial year, facing a projected increase in pending bills to Sh100.4 billion.
• The State Department for Higher Education, led by Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala, has a significant budget deficit, needing Sh311.9 billion for recurrent expenditure but allocated only Sh155.2 billion.
• Private universities are owed an estimated Sh60.2 billion in unpaid tuition fees, prompting legal action threats, while public universities have accumulated Sh100.3 billion in pending bills.