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The government has confirmed that public schools will begin receiving delayed capitation funds starting next Monday.
Julius Ogamba, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, explained that the delay in releasing these funds was due to competition for resources among various state agencies.
While schools nationwide reopened on Monday for the second term, they are once again facing the challenge of delayed fund disbursement amid failed promises by the State.
School heads and stakeholders have expressed frustration over the government’s failure to release capitation funds on time a move that has affected learning.
Ogamba stated that schools would receive Sh21 billion before the end of next week, as public schools are currently experiencing a financial crunch.
The Cabinet Secretary attributed the delays to the competition among government agencies for limited resources.
This announcement comes just hours after the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) warned that learning in schools could be paralyzed due to financial constraints.
Ogamba made these remarks during the Inaugural Education Conference 2025 at the Lake Naivasha Resort in Naivasha.
“We have been engaging with the Treasury, and we are committed to releasing Sh21 billion for capitation to public schools before next week,” he assured.
He also warned school heads against imposing illegal levies due to the funding delays, stating that those found responsible would face disciplinary action.
“We are aware that some Principals are collecting illegal levies from unsuspecting parents and this should come to an end,” he said.
On the transition of students from Grade nine to ten next year, Ogamba said that the exercise had kicked off with the government engaging various stakeholders.
He also raised concern over use of government funds in various projects calling on County Directors of Education to make sure that the funds were well utilized.
Addressing the press at the sidelines of the meeting, he called on Heads of Education in counties to address the perennial students unrest in the second term.
“We have seen a trend where cases of student unrest rise in the second term and are calling on heads of education and principals to stem this menace,” he said.
On his part, the PS in the Ministry Professor Julius Bitok admitted that there were gaps mainly in the issue of capitation that needed to be addressed.
“We shall be using the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) to address the gaps as we continue implementing various reforms,” he said.
