Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migosi on Wednesday directed all university vice chancellors to admit students unconditionally.

In a letter from the Ministry, the CS explained that all students qualified for admission are guaranteed an admission irrespective of their ability to immediately pay the household contribution.

The directive came after uproar from students and parents who complained that universities were turning them away for failing to pay school fees as per the new model.

"The Ministry of Education wishes to inform all students who have qualified for university admission that they are guaranteed a place in their chosen institutions, irrespective of their ability to immediately pay the household contribution. Vice-Chancellors of public universities have therefore been directed to admit all qualified students without exception," read the notice in part.

"Additionally, the Vice-Chancellors are required to facilitate suitable accommodation arrangements for first year students, with the guarantee that the necessary fees will be paid upon disbursement of the upkeep component. The Ministry is working with the National Treasury to expedite the release of the requisite funds."

The CS further announced that the Ministry had extended the application period to December 31, 2024..

Therefore, students aggrieved by the band they have been categorised in are encouraged to contact teams or make the changes through the portal.

The directive came after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula asked Education PS Beatrice Inyangala to issue a statement clarifying that no student would be chased from the universities for not paying school fees.

Inyangala, who appeared in the National Assembly, had explained that the state should issue the directive barring VCs from sending away students and their parents.

“Can you from here as a Ministry issue a public communication for children to go to school, their money can follow them," Wetangula asked.

While in Parliament, Inyangala further noted that a majority of the students ended up in bands 4 and 5 despite having less household income due to parameters employed in classifying the students.

She explained that landed in the two expensive bands since the high school they attended was a classifying parameter and yet majority attended national schools where school fees topped Ksh53,000.

"Without reliable data on income, it is very difficult for us to use income precisely to predict for the time being. However, I have data here from the National Examination Council for the results of the students who are now joining University," she explained.

"According to this data, 84.8 per cent of the students who scored C+ (plus) and above studied in national schools. We can see that this admission is skewed towards national schools."

"In this national schools, students were paying Ksh53,000 minimum and we also know there are other levies. Some of these students also studied in private schools," Inyangala added.