"Is it this bad?": KU fees skyrocket from KSh 31,400 to KSh 612,000 in 3 years

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- A Kenyan man named Kiragu Mugo shared two Kenyatta University (KU) fee structures side by side, showing a dramatic rise between 2023 and 2026

- Official documents show KU's annual fees stood at KSh 31,400 in 2023, but the 2026 structure lists figures ranging from KSh 150,000 to KSh 612,000

- The post, shared on Facebook on August 10, 2026, has drawn widespread concern from parents and guardians about the affordability of university education

A Kenyan man has ignited a fierce debate online after posting side-by-side fee structures from Kenyatta University (KU), revealing a staggering increase in the cost of university education between 2023 and 2026.

Kiragu Mugo shared the comparison on Facebook on Monday, August 10, 2026, asking parents and guardians directly: "Is it this bad? The burden of University Education."

How much was tuition, medical cover in KU in 2023?

An official document from Kenyatta University's Finance Department, referenced as KU/FIN/SF/FEES STRUCTURE/VOL.4/433 and dated August 23, 2023, shows that students paid a total of KSh 31,400 per academic year.

That figure covered tuition at KSh 16,000, alongside smaller charges for registration, medical cover, examinations, library access, computer use, recreation and KUSA membership.

By 2026, the figures in the circulating fee structure tell a markedly different story, with annual costs listed at between KSh 150,000 and KSh 612,000 depending on the programme. That represents an increase of anywhere from roughly 380% to nearly 1,850% over just three years.

The 2023 document itself carried a cautionary note that the university reserved the right to vary fees without prior reference to students or their sponsors, a clause that has taken on new significance given the scale of the subsequent increases.

Parents taking children to KU count cost

The post quickly resonated with Kenyan parents and guardians grappling with the rising cost of putting their children through university.

Many families who had budgeted based on older fee structures now face a vastly different financial reality at the point of enrolment or progression.

The sharp rise at KU comes at a time when Kenyan households are already navigating the pressures of inflation and a tightening economy.

For students relying on the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), the gap between what HELB disburses and what institutions now charge has widened considerably, leaving many to bridge the difference through family contributions or part-time work.

KU graduate lands scholarship at University of Kentucky

In another story, TUKO.co.ke also highlighted the story about Eugene, a KU graduate from Budalangi, who overcame significant hardships to secure a scholarship to pursue a Master of Science in Finance at the University of Kentucky.

Growing up in a household where meals were scarce and daily walks of 8km to school were required, Eugene transformed his struggles into motivation for academic excellence.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.