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A human rights lobby group has challenged in court the higher education funding model, seeking its nullification.

Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and other petitioners argue that government agencies it has listed as respondents violated the Universities Act and grossly abused the human right of the intended beneficiaries.

KHRC argues that if implemented, the new model will affect funding of university education for technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The case was filed by Mitullah Shako and advocates for the petitioner, including the Elimu Bora Working Group, the Students’ Caucus, and Boaz Waruku.

They want the court to stop the implementation of the programme until their case is heard and determined.

Petition respondents

The respondents in the case have been listed as Education CS Ezekiel Machogu, the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb), and the Trustees of the University Fund Kenya.

Other respondents named in the petition are the Kenya University and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) and the Attorney General.

A working party on education reform appointed on September 30 last year recommended the model be implemented and replace the differential Unit Cost model

This move to the court is prompted by concerns that the model, commonly referred to as the Variable Scholarship and Loan Funding (VSLF) model, is inherently discriminatory and disproportionately excludes millions of students from accessing financial support for their university education.