When the 2022 KCSE results were released, it was a moment of celebration for many students and their families.
The hard work and dedication put into studying had finally paid off, and dreams of pursuing higher education were one step closer to becoming a reality.
Among the thousands of students who excelled in the exams, an impressive number of 1,146 achieved the coveted A plain grade, an increase from the previous year’s 1,138.
Many of these high achievers have set their sights on medical courses, with Bachelor of Medicine and Pharmacy being their favorites.
So, where will these top-performing students be heading for their tertiary education? we take a look at the universities expected to admit these A materials in September:
Public universities
- Nairobi University will admit 418 students who scored A plain.
- Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology will admit 264 students.
- Kenyatta University will admit 51.
- Moi University will admit 71.
- Egerton University will admit 58 students.
- Maseno University will admit 53 students.
- Technical University of Kenya (TUK) will admit 38
- Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology will admit 22
- Kisii University -22.
- Multimedia University 15
- Dedan Kimathi University of Science and Technology 9
- Embu University – 6 students
- Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) 2 students
- Meru University – 1
- Kibabii University -1
Private Universities:
- Uzima University – 12 students
- Mount Kenya University – 6
- Daystar University -1
- Kenya Methodist University -1
- Kenya Highlands Evangelical University -1
Funding
Under the new university funding model, students who enrolled in private universities will not qualify for government scholarships and grants. However, they will be eligible for HELB loans.
The new funding model, which is based on a student’s economic background, is expected to bolster university enrolment.
Of the 869, 782 students who sat for KCSE 2022, only 19% of them qualified for university enrolment and scored a C plain and above.
Low enrollment in ‘Big’ universities
Student enrolment in 2023 declined at Moi, Kenyatta, and Nairobi Universities.
The number of students who enrolled at UON dropped by 24% from 47, 693 in 2022 to 36, 251 in 2023. The decline was attributed to the university’s decision to hike school fees in 2021.
The recent leadership wrangles in the university could also have been behind the decrease in student enrollment.
The wrangles were said to revolve around vice chancellor Prof Kiama’s opposition to the renewal of the contract of a senior member of management.
This caused the VC to go on leave for six months, meaning he will be absent during the welcoming of first years joining next month, and during the two graduation ceremonies scheduled for later this year.
Enrolment at Moi University also dropped by 22% while that of Kenyatta University dropped by 3%. This decline was attributed to the emergence of public universities which has eased the pressure in top universities.
The number of public universities in Kenya stands at 35 following the awarding of charters to Tharaka-Nithi University, Tom Mboya University, and Kaimosi Friends University as reported by Business Daily.
JKUAT, Maseno, and Egerton were the only ‘Big’ public universities that had an increase in student enrollment in 2023.
Public Universities have faced financial woes in recent years due to decreased student enrollment and the scrapping of some parallel courses by the government. The Universities have resulted to promoting Ph.D. and Masters courses in efforts to raise enrolment.
