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Kenya’s public university system is approaching a financial cliff edge. Between 2021 and 2024, public university enrolment grew by 14%—from 448,000 to 522,000 students—while private university numbers declined by 5%. The shift signals growing reliance on public institutions. But as the number of students rises, the financial foundations beneath these universities are rapidly eroding.

South Africa’s higher education landscape has changed markedly since the dawn of the 21st century. Enrolment in universities and colleges grew by nearly 60% from 2002 to 2024, reaching 980,000 students. The face of that growth is unmistakably Black: today, 77% of all students enrolled in higher education are Black Africans, up from 60% in 2002. On the surface, this appears to be a triumph of inclusion and a sign that society is finally correcting the imbalances of its aparthe