The High Court has issued orders suspending the implementation of the new university education funding model pending the hearing and determination of a petition challenging the new model.
Justice Chacha Mwita in issuing the orders said that the Attorney General, Education Cabinet Secretary and Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) had stalled the case due to the delay in filing their submissions.
In his orders, Justice Mwita said “Pending inter-parte hearing, conservatory orders are issues against the respondents, their servants, agents and employees from implementing the new education funding model until hearing and determination of the petition,”
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Elimu Bora Working Group, Boaz Waruku and a Students Caucus had filed the case on October 13, 2023 arguing that the new funding model is discriminatory contrary to the constitution as it locks thousands of students out of higher education.
They cited the implementation of the new funding model as a breach of the right to education.
They further pointed out that while the President had a mandate to discharge, he did not follow the due process when he launched the model.
The new model dubbed Variable Schorlaship and Loan Funding (VSLF) was launched in May 2023.
The model categorizes students into 5 bands with students from vulnerable and extremely needy families receiving full funding while the less needy getting up to 90% funding.
