Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba. Photo | courtesy.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced the placement of the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) students in various universities and colleges through Kenya Universities and Colleges Placement Service (KUCCPS).
According to KUCCPS, 310,502 students were accepted into colleges and universities. Of the 965,501 applicants, 244,563 scored C+ or higher making them eligible for admission to the institutions.
However, 42,868 (17.5 percent) did not submit an application for placement. This notable disparity has been attributed to uncertainty around univeristy funding model and unavailability of health courses in most universities despite the huge demand.
The now-defunct university funding model, the Variable Scholarship and Loan Funding scheme declared unconstitutional by Justice Chacha Mwita in December 2024 due to its discriminatory nature and lack of public participation was a key barrier for non-applicants.
Designed to allocate scholarships and loans based on financial need, the model’s complexity and subsequent court ruling created widespread uncertainty. The model was reinstated pending a final appeal hearing after the Court of Appeal suspended the High Court’s ruling on March 26, 2025.
KUCCPS CEO Agnes Wahome said the judgement created uncertainty leaving student and parents unsure of the cost of university studies especially in rural areas.
“The judgment did not provide clear direction on how to treat students, creating uncertainty that deterred applications,” Wahome said.
However Education CS Julius Ogamba assured that no student will miss out urging stunents who failed to apply to explore alternatives like the Open University of Kenya or KMTC’s September 2025 intake accessible via the KUCCPS portal or SMS to 20842. “We have 300,000 slots available; no qualified student should miss out,” CS Ogamba said.
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Health Courses
The demand for health-related courses was a notable aspect of the placements especially at KMTC where 52,725 of the 310,502 students who were placed applied for just 34,048 KMTC spots. More than 27,000 applied for nursing alone.
“Health courses remain highly competitive due to their marketability and direct career paths,” Wahome said.
Strong interest was also shown in courses like clinical medicine and community health nursing. Wahome admitted to the fact that many applicants were put in alternate programs due to low space.
The high demand for medical training reflects students’ focus on stable, high-impact careers, but the placement gap signals a need for clearer funding guidance. With thousands of slots still open, addressing these barriers could help more students, especially those eyeing health professions secure their future
