The CEO of the Universities Fund, Geoffrey Monari, has called on university students to reapply for funding on the Higher Education Financing portal after discovering discrepancies in the initial categorization. Monari attributed these errors to the submission of inaccurate information, laxity in data collection, and inadequate network infrastructure, which affected the proper banding of students for financial aid.
Monari emphasized the critical role that accurate socio-economic data plays in determining the funding bands for students. The re-categorization process will also consider affirmative action, socio-demographic factors, and family education expenses to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of funds. He highlighted that students pursuing agriculture-related courses might be placed in higher funding bands, given the government’s focus on food security. Additionally, students from families with disabled or chronically ill parents or those with extended family dependents are classified as needy, increasing their chances of receiving higher financial support.
Since the Higher Education Portal opened, the fund has processed 134,029 loan and scholarship applications, approving 127,591 of them. These students were assigned to different funding bands based on their financial need, with a priority given to those most vulnerable. However, Monari acknowledged that the initial placements left some students dissatisfied, with around 12,000 filing appeals to have their funding bands reassessed.
“We have received numerous appeals from Kenyans concerned about the bands they were placed in,” Monari noted. The fund has already reviewed nearly 1,000 of these appeals, adjusting the funding bands for those students deemed to be in genuine need.
To improve the accuracy and transparency of the university financing system, the government has adopted a multi-agency approach. This involves collaboration with the National Educational Management Information System (NEMIS), the Kenya Revenue Authority, and the Ministry of Interior. Monari revealed that 70% of applicants initially claimed zero income, but validation with other institutions revealed that many were actually earning more.
He urged students who feel they were incorrectly categorized to reapply through the Higher Education Financing portal, ensuring that all information provided is accurate to receive a fair assessment.
