Students Faking Parents’ Deaths for Higher Government Scholarships, Universities Fund Reveals.
The Universities Fund has revealed that some university students are fraudulently declaring their parents dead in an attempt to qualify for higher government scholarships under Kenya’s needs-based higher education funding model.
The disclosure was made by Universities Fund Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Edwin Wanyonyi during a higher education funding sensitisation forum held at Uriri High School in Migori County. The agency said it has detected cases where applicants deliberately provide false family information, including falsely claiming orphan status, to increase their eligibility for government financial support.
The revelations come as more than 200,000 students placed in universities by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) begin applying for government scholarships and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans ahead of their admission in September 2026.
Universities Fund Detects Fraud Under Needs-Based Funding Model
Dr Wanyonyi said the Universities Fund has identified an increasing number of fraudulent applications submitted through the joint Universities Fund and HELB application portal introduced in 2023.
Under the current funding model, students are categorised according to their level of financial vulnerability, with scholarship and loan allocations determined using socio-economic information submitted during the application process.
According to Dr Wanyonyi, applicants have been manipulating family information in an attempt to qualify for higher levels of government support.
“You now know that if you are an orphan, you qualify for the highest level of scholarship. Some of you are now trying to ‘kill’ your parents on paper so that you can receive more government support,” Dr Wanyonyi said.
The Universities Fund stated that all information submitted by applicants is subjected to verification before funding decisions are made.
Universities Fund and HELB Verification Systems
Dr Wanyonyi said the Universities Fund and the Higher Education Loans Board have established verification mechanisms capable of confirming whether parents are alive or deceased before scholarship and loan awards are approved.
He warned that applicants providing false information would be identified during the verification process.
“We have mechanisms to verify the information you provide. If your parents are alive, we will know. The best thing is to be truthful because the funding model is designed to identify those who genuinely need support,” he said.
The Universities Fund noted that applicants are required to submit accurate socio-economic information, which forms the basis of financial need assessment under the funding model.
Government Scholarship Allocation Under Current Funding Model
Under the current higher education funding model, every student admitted to a public university qualifies for some level of government scholarship.
Students from the most financially vulnerable households receive the highest scholarship allocation, with the Government meeting up to 55 per cent of tuition fees. The remaining costs are met through Higher Education Loans Board loans and household contributions based on the applicant’s assessed financial need.
Dr Wanyonyi urged students to apply for both government scholarships and HELB loans simultaneously.
“You have already been placed by KUCCPS. The next step is securing funding. Your first stop should be the government scholarship because that is the State’s investment in your future.”
He added:
“The highest scholarship covers 55 per cent of tuition fees. It is an investment by the government in your education.”
Applicants were also encouraged to select both scholarship and loan options during the application process to improve their chances of receiving adequate financial support.
Information Used to Determine Student Vulnerability
The Universities Fund said applicants are required to provide complete and truthful information regarding their family and economic circumstances.
The information considered during assessment includes:
- Household income.
- Number of siblings.
- Chronic illnesses affecting family members.
- Household poverty levels.
- Other socio-economic circumstances used in determining financial need.
Dr Wanyonyi called upon parents to participate in the application process by assisting students in providing accurate documentation and truthful information.
He noted that these details are used to determine the appropriate level of scholarship allocation under the needs-based funding model.
Nationwide Funding Sensitisation Campaign
The Universities Fund, Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) are conducting nationwide sensitisation campaigns aimed at educating students and parents on the government funding application process.
The campaign also seeks to address misconceptions surrounding the higher education funding model and encourage eligible students to submit applications.
Dr Wanyonyi expressed concern that some genuinely vulnerable students fail to apply for scholarships and loans because they are unaware of the available government support.
Students who have already received university admission letters have until September 6, 2026, to complete applications for government scholarships and HELB loans.
HELB CEO Issues Application Guidelines
During the Migori sensitisation forum, Higher Education Loans Board Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Monari urged all 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates who have secured placement in universities or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to apply for government funding regardless of their examination grades.
“You must apply to be considered for funding. If you do not submit an application, you will not be eligible for government scholarships or loans.”
Mr Monari instructed applicants to provide truthful information throughout the application process.
He said students who previously benefited from scholarships should disclose that information and upload supporting confirmation letters where required.
He also stated that applicants claiming orphan status must submit the death certificates of their parents as supporting evidence.
Additional HELB Application Requirements
Mr Monari announced that students who are below the age required to obtain national identity cards may still apply for government funding using their KUCCPS index numbers.
He further stated that the amount of scholarship and loan funding awarded will depend on the information submitted during the application and the determination of each student’s financial need.
Applicants living with disabilities were also advised to disclose their disability status and submit the required supporting documentation to facilitate appropriate assessment.
Mr Monari emphasised that the government funding application process is provided free of charge.
He cautioned students against allowing third parties to complete applications on their behalf and warned against using another person’s telephone number, email address or national identity card during registration.
According to HELB, official communication regarding scholarship and loan applications is transmitted through the contact details provided by applicants during registration.
Mr Monari advised every applicant to open and use a personal email account rather than relying on cybercafés or other individuals’ accounts.
Applicants were also instructed to complete every mandatory section of the application form to avoid delays arising from incomplete submissions.
Students Advised to Open Personal Bank Accounts
Mr Monari further directed students to open personal bank accounts instead of using accounts belonging to parents or guardians.
He noted that several financial institutions now provide banking services for minors, allowing students without national identity cards to establish personal accounts.
According to HELB, scholarship and loan funds are intended for individual students and should therefore be deposited into personal bank accounts to prevent payment delays and administrative complications.
Mr Monari also cautioned students against sharing passwords or personal identification numbers (PINs) associated with their funding accounts.
He warned that government education funding should not be diverted for gambling or other non-educational purposes.
Read Also: KNEC Unveils Robust Systems to Eliminate Exam Cheating
Joint Campaign to Improve Access to Government Funding
The Higher Education Loans Board, Universities Fund and Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service stated that the ongoing nationwide sensitisation campaign is intended to improve understanding of the government funding application process, minimise errors that delay funding decisions and increase access to scholarships and loans among eligible students admitted to universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions.
Students Faking Parents’ Deaths for Higher Government Scholarships, Universities Fund Reveals.
