Nairobi, Kenya - September 02, 2024

University of Nairobi students staged demonstrations on Monday to protest the new University Funding Model.

The students, who plan to petition the Ministry of Education, argue that the new funding approach will undermine university education due to what they consider an unfair distribution system.

Rocha Madzayo, leader of the University of Nairobi Students Association, has called on all university students nationwide to oppose the new funding model.

Last week, President William Ruto defended the new model, highlighting its focus on students' varying levels of vulnerability rather than on universities themselves.

However, some education stakeholders have criticized the model, claiming it could hinder the aspirations of needy students.

Nearly 12,000 students have registered appeals through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal, contesting the new funding approach.

This new framework, introduced by President Ruto on May 3, 2023, replaces the Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) model previously used to finance universities, aiming to ensure financial support for all eligible students.