High Court temporarily has halted the implementation of President William Ruto’s new higher education funding model. The suspension will remain in place until the court hears and determines a case filed by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) alongside three other petitioners.
Justice Chacha Mwita, who issued the ruling, noted that delays in the case were caused by the government’s failure to submit documents on time. Key respondents include Attorney General, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, and the Kenya Universities and College Placement Service (KUCPS).
The petitioners, led by the Elimu Bora Working Group, Boaz Waruku, and the Students Caucus, argue that the new funding model discriminates against students from disadvantaged backgrounds, effectively locking out thousands from higher education. They took the matter to court on October 13, 2023, seeking to suspend the model’s rollout.
According to the petitioners, the model’s design, which classifies students into five funding bands, will deny many students from less privileged families the chance to access sufficient financial aid. The most vulnerable students are promised full funding, while those deemed less needy could receive up to 90% of the funds. However, critics argue that many deserving students may still fall through the cracks
The case is scheduled for mention on December 16, 2024, when the court will review the submissions from both parties.
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