KCB Bank has signed agreements with 29 public and private universities to provide tailored financing and digital solutions aimed at supporting infrastructure development, operations, and financial access for staff, students, and suppliers.
The initiative will offer project finance, working capital, and digitized payment systems for institutions, alongside salary advances, mortgages, asset financing, and insurance products for teaching and non-teaching staff.
Universities will also have access to green energy financing options such as solar power and biogas.
Students will benefit from fee payment plans, digital banking tools, and a three-month internship programme targeting over 10,000 learners to boost practical skills and industry exposure.
KCB says the programme will also extend credit and training to SMEs and suppliers linked to the universities, while surrounding communities will access enterprise development, environmental conservation projects, and scholarships through the KCB Foundation.
The move comes as public universities grapple with funding shortfalls amid rising enrolment and infrastructure needs.
Government data shows that most institutions face growing financial pressures, prompting calls for private sector partnerships to sustain the sector.
According to Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, the collaboration aligns with government efforts to promote sustainable, inclusive, and digitally enabled higher education.
