Secondary school leavers awaiting placement to public universities have been urged to apply for government scholarships to help them complete their education.
Amid the rising cost of living in Kenya, Universities Fund (UF) acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Edwin Wanyonyi appealed to students to take up the scholarships to help ease the cost of their education.
Dr Wanyonyi was speaking during the 1st National Career Conference and Exhibition 2026 organised by Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) from January 27-29, 2025 at KICC.
The event drew hundreds of students, many of whom formed the batch of candidates that sat the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination. Other participants included parents, teachers, universities, TVET institutions and key government stakeholders.
The conference responds to a growing national need for credible, expert-driven career guidance, especially at a time when the country is embracing the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), alongside reforms within TVET and CBET pathways.
During the event, students were engaged in informed conversations on career pathways, labour market trends, skills development and education-to-employment linkages.
Dr Wanyonyi said the scholarship is offered under the SCFM to ensure the education of learners is not disrupted due to financial constraints.
“Scholarship enables you to reduce the cost so that you can finish your studies and go into the job market,” he explained.
Dr Wanyonyi said 270,715 Form Four graduates qualified for placement to public universities and therefore are eligible for scholarship.
Dr Wanyonyi said that funding is dependent on a student’s level of need, with the most vulnerable receiving higher allocation.
He underscored that “without financing higher education is doomed”, and cautioned the learners that “if you fail to apply for scholarship your household contribution will be higher”.
Speaking at the same event, KUCCPS Board Chairperson Cyrus Gituai said the organisation is planning to review its career guidance approach to align it to the new education policy and emerging market trends.
“We will adopt a new method of career guidance where it is education for creating opportunities not just education for employment,” Mr Gituai said.
He added that the event will be held annually ahead of course selection by students.
