Chaos erupted at the Kenya School of Government last Friday when students clashed with officials from the Ministry of Education and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) over the newly introduced Higher Education Funding (HEF) model.
The event, intended to be a public engagement session, quickly turned into a heated confrontation, exposing deep-seated frustrations among students.
The HEF model, which was launched as part of a broader reform to replace the outdated Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) system, has faced significant backlash from students across the country.
Under this model, funding is more individualized, relying on a Means Testing Instrument (MTI) to assess students’ financial needs.
However, many students feel that the new system is inadequate and discriminatory, particularly in its distribution of scholarships and loans.
According to reports, the meeting was orchestrated to appear as if there was widespread support for the HEF model.
Allegedly, students were paid Ksh 4,000 each to attend the event, creating a façade of approval.
However, the reality on the ground was starkly different.
Students from various institutions, not just private universities as some media outlets reported, voiced their discontent, rejecting the model outright.
Tensions escalated when rumors spread that student leaders from the University of Nairobi (UON) had been bribed with Ksh 50,000 each to vote in favor of the funding model.
This led to these leaders being forcefully removed from the venue by their peers, further intensifying the already volatile situation.
The government’s attempt to stage-manage the event backfired, revealing the deep mistrust and dissatisfaction among students regarding the new funding approach.
This incident highlights the challenges the government faces in gaining student buy-in for the HEF model, which, despite its intention to address financial inequalities.
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