Ruto defends varsity funding model, says it existed before

President William Ruto has defended the new university funding model.

The President said that under the new university funding model, the students have been put in five bands.

Speaking during a town hall meeting, Ruto said the banding in the new funding model existed before.

“We started the banding in 1996, there has always been banding, but it did not start with this model, I know there is a push that may be this banding started with this model, but it did not. It has always been there.

The President said that he has added one band to the four bands that existed before to make them five.

This funding framework replaces the Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) previously used to finance universities.

Unveiled on May 3, the model according to Ruto aims to ensure that all eligible students receive adequate educational financial support.

It also promotes the provision and access to quality higher education and ensures that all students are equitably and adequately supported based on their financial needs.