John Mbadi proposed Sh58 billion for the Higher Education Loans Board

A budget shake-up is lining up more cash for students, signaling a deliberate push to make higher education less brutal on families.

Loan funding jump proposal

• Higher Education Loans Board is slated for a big cash bump.
• Allocations are set to climb from Sh41 billion.
• The new target lands at Sh58 billion.

Scholarships getting supercharged

• The National Treasury also plans a scholarship surge.
• That pool is projected to more than double.
• Combined student support could hit Sh92 billion.

Who broke the news publicly

• John Mbadi rolled out the plan.
• He spoke during a public forum in Kiambu County.
• Student feedback was cited as the driver.

How student voices shaped the budget

• He said learner concerns filtered into planning papers.
• The Budget Policy Statement already reflects that input.
• Funding pain points directly influenced the proposal.

What the government says it is fixing

• Officials admit families are under heavy financial pressure.
• The move is pitched as making education cheaper.
• Youth access is being framed as a priority.

Secondary school funding admission

• Mbadi acknowledged that capitation levels are weak.
• High school learners have been underfunded.
• Fixes are promised despite tight finances.

Shift in how universities get funded

• The government is reworking higher education financing.
• A course-based costing model is being pushed.
• The goal is to match money to real programme costs.

Context from recent years

• Julius Ogamba previously backed higher HELB funding.
• Loans were already raised to Sh41 billion.
• Disbursements are ongoing under a student-centered system.