The government has set a standard fee of Sh67,189 per year for students in all public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
The Ministry of Education said the move is aimed at making training-based education more accessible and addressing long-standing differences in fees across institutions and programmes.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba announced the new fee structure on March 6 during the first graduation ceremony at Baringo National Polytechnic.
“Following extensive consultations with TVET sub-sector stakeholders, the government has rationalised TVET fees to promote access to TVET offerings,” Ogamba told graduates, families and other stakeholders at the event.
He said the Sh67,189 fee will include assessment charges and will take effect from May 2026.
The new policy comes weeks after concerns were raised over rising fees in public TVET institutions. Reports indicated that charges had nearly doubled over the past year, leading to lower enrolment and higher dropout rates as some technical colleges became more expensive than public universities.
The Kenya Union of Technical and Vocational Education Trainers (KUTVET) said that annual tuition fees under the modular curriculum introduced in May 2025 had increased from about Sh56,000 to Sh105,000.
According to the union’s Secretary General Kepher Ogwui, the figures cover tuition only and do not include accommodation, examination fees, tools, training materials or daily living expenses.
“It has now become extremely difficult for the ordinary parent to sustain a child in a technical institution. Fees have risen from Sh56,000 to Sh105,000 per year for tuition alone,” Ogwui said.
Under the current system, learners pay about Sh35,000 per term, but trainers say the total annual cost can rise sharply once other expenses are included.
The government says the changes are part of wider reforms aimed at preparing graduates for the modern labour market. A key part of the reforms is the introduction of Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET).
Ogamba said the new system focuses more on practical skills and workplace experience instead of theory-based learning.
“This approach shifts our focus from theory-heavy instruction to hands-on training, practical assessment and industry relevance,” he said.
He added that the government is strengthening partnerships between TVET institutions and industries to increase workplace training opportunities. Investments are also being made in modern equipment, digital infrastructure, teacher training and curriculum updates.
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