Government accused of de-funding education

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro at his offices at the KICC, Nairobi on January 6, 2026. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

The government is in a spot for sending to schools less capitation per child as first term starts.

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro accused government of defunding the country’s education, noting that move could affect quality teaching and learning.

Nyoro called out the Government over last week’s disbursement saying that the cumulative total owed to senior secondary schools alone for last year is Sh22.5 billion.

This, he said, means out of the recently released Sh26 billion, only Sh3.5 billion was for Term One, representing about Sh109 per learner and schools are forced to accumulate debts and struggle to maintain standards.

“We will observe this term on the behavior of Government especially in terms of sending money and by the time we are going for mid-term, we expect the government to have sent money for this term failure to which we will mobilize Kenyan parents to demand what is right, which is to pay taxes then get free basic education which has been there,” he said.

He said parents cannot continue to observe silence as the government continues to tear down the right of learners in the country by adequately funding free basic education.

Nyoro said the Government has been claiming to release Sh22,244 as capitation, which is he described as noting that the truth should be on what has been and was disbursed, not on a promissory note.

In the last academic year, Nyoro said only Sh15,384 per learner was disbursed and wondered where the rest of capitation has been redirected.

To this end, he said the amount the government released last week should be accompanied by a circular clarifying whether it is for the balance of the last academic year or Term One of the current year.

“As it is, after netting off last year’s balance of Sh6,860, the Government disbursed only Sh109 per learner for first term against the expected Sh11,122 which is 50 per cent of the capitation as is the norm for Term One,” he explained.

He said the country must take education seriously and desist from playing politics out of serious matters, even as he demanded answers from Government on the actual capitation, whether it is Sh22,244, Sh15,384 or Sh12,780 insisting that time for taking advantage of Kenyans due to lack of information is long gone.

At the same time, he said that confirmation of Junior Secondary School (JSS) interns must be done immediately, noting that Article 223 should be invoked to get budget for confirmation.

He said the amount of money required can easily be raised by stepping down ostentatious expenditure like endless renovation of offices.

“The Government must confirm the JSS interns into permanent and pensionable terms and if there is no money in the budget it is very simple. I saw audit queries from Controller of Budget and there is a provision in our constitution and financial laws, called Article 223, where the government is given permission to spend money which is urgently needed and thereafter seek ratification of that later,” he said.

He continued: “The departmental committee in Parliament, especially the leadership, come from the ruling party so I was just asking politely, I’m here demanding that the Ministry sends money and the department of the line Ministry is an extension of the same policy, should know that these are weighty matters that cannot wait for Parliament to resume sessions,” he said.

He said there was already a plan to increase fees and the structure which was pointing to this was in place, with the intent to raise it by Sh9,300.

“That plan was there. It had been already effected but, I want to thank all Kenyans for putting up their voice against the increment of the fee for day secondary schools because at least now learners and parents can breathe,” he said.

Last week, the government said it had released Sh44.25 billion in capitation funds for Term One of the 2026 academic year, a financial boost to public basic education institutions ahead of schools.

The Ministry of Education announced that the funds will support learning activities across all levels of basic education, easing pressure on schools, parents, and learners at the start of the academic year.

The disbursement comes as the country prepares for the full rollout of senior school under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

According to the Ministry, Sh3.7 billion was allocated to Free Primary Education (FPE), Sh14.46 billion to Free Day Junior Secondary School Education and Sh26.08 billion to Free Day Secondary Education, bringing the total to Sh44.25 billion.

“The government will continue to provide capitation at the rate of Sh22,244 per learner per year,” said Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Ogamba, said.

He warned school administrators against misusing the funds, directing heads of institutions to ensure prudent and accountable use of public resources and to adhere strictly to government policy on fees.

“School heads and principals must not impose extra levies or fees. The ministry will deal firmly with any verified cases of misappropriation or illegal charges.”