Kenyan public schools are in crisis due to the delay of Sh64 billion in capitation funds. This is when schools are reopening after the mid-term break and most institutions are struggling to meet basic needs.
Capitation Breakdown and Gaps
Under the Free Primary Education, the government allocates Sh1,420 per learner, junior schools get Sh15,042 per student and secondary schools get Sh22,244 per student under the Free Secondary Education. However, school heads report receiving only about Sh15,000 per student from the Ministry of Education annually, a huge gap that affects school operations.
Government is supposed to disburse capitation funds in a structured manner—50% in Term One, 30% in Term Two and 20% in Term Three. But this has not been followed and schools are in dire straits.
Cost Cutting Measures and Operational Challenges
Many schools have resorted to draconian cost cutting measures including food and water rationing due to lack of funds. Some schools cannot pay for electricity and fuel while teacher shortages exacerbate the crisis and force schools to hire extra staff using already limited resources.
Knut and Kuppet have cried foul, urging the government to release the funds immediately. Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu has warned that the delay could disrupt learning and some schools have already sent students home due to lack of funds.
Government Response and Budgetary Constraints
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has said there is no provision to pay the pending capitation under the current budget. He explained that government operates on cash basis meaning unused funds from previous financial year cannot be carried forward.
While the Treasury claims that funds for Term One have been released, school administrators say their accounts are bare. According to the Treasury, out of the Sh48.8 billion allocated to schools, Sh4.5 billion has been released for Free Primary Education and Sh15.1 billion for Junior Schools. But only Sh14 billion of the Sh28 billion for secondary schools has been disbursed leaving a big gap.
School Fee Increases
To ease the financial burden, Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) has proposed fee increase. If approved, parents in national schools will pay Sh19,628 more, extra county schools Sh27,488 more and day schools Sh5,372 annually.
Kessha National Chairman Willy Kuria says the last fee review was seven years ago and rising operational costs need an adjustment. He warned that if government doesn’t intervene, schools will either increase fees or send learners home.
Bursary Suspension Adds to the Crisis
But that’s not all, Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o has suspended county governors from issuing bursaries to students in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. This has sparked protests from governors, parents and education stakeholders.