The Court of Appeal has temporarily reinstated the government’s controversial university funding model, allowing the administration to proceed with the Variable Scholarship Loan Funding Model (VSLF) pending the outcome of ongoing appeals.
The VSLF, introduced by President William Ruto in May 2023, was designed to replace the previous Uniform Funding Model.
This new system aimed to categorize students into five bands based on financial need, offering full funding to those from vulnerable households and partial support to others, with some students contributing up to 10% of their educational expenses.
However, the model faced significant opposition.
On December 20, 2024, the High Court declared the VSLF unconstitutional, citing inadequate public participation and concerns over its discriminatory nature.
Justice Chacha Mwita emphasized that shifting the financial burden from the government to parents violated constitutional provisions.
Responding to the High Court’s ruling, the government, through the Attorney General Dorcas Odour, filed an appeal and sought a stay of execution.
The Court of Appeal’s on Wednesday however allowed the AG’s pleasand issued a stay stay of the High Court decision pending hearing and determination of the appeal.
This means that the VSLF model remains operational during the appeal process.
The appellate court judges directed key stakeholders including the Attorney General, the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), and the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) to disseminate information about the funding framework within 14 days.
This communication is to reach all universities, current and prospective students, and applicants for the upcoming placement cycle.
