The government has released Sh22 billion in capitation funds to support public basic education institutions for Term 2, offering much-needed relief to schools that have faced operational challenges due to delayed funding.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced the disbursement, noting that a total of Sh22,028,911,191.40 has been allocated across various education levels. The breakdown includes Sh1.37 billion for Free Primary Education, Sh8.9 billion for Free Day Junior School Education, Sh118.4 million for Special Needs Education in Junior Schools, and Sh11.64 billion for Free Day Secondary Education.
Ogamba reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring every child’s right to free and compulsory basic education, as enshrined in Article 53(1)(b) of the Constitution. He emphasized the importance of using the funds prudently and warned school heads against levying unauthorised charges or misusing resources.
“As a Ministry, we will take decisive action against any misuse of resources or unlawful charges imposed on learners,” the CS stated.
The disbursement comes after a prolonged delay that left school administrators struggling with unpaid non-teaching staff, unsettled debts, and suspended academic and co-curricular activities. The capitation had initially been promised by May 9, 2025—two weeks into the term—but was delayed due to financial constraints and bureaucratic hurdles.
Ogamba, who had addressed the Naivasha Education Conference on May 2, had assured stakeholders of the imminent release of the funds. He urged them to monitor fund usage and ensure accountability in schools.
He also acknowledged that government-funded education programmes are resource-intensive, and delays sometimes result from competition for limited Exchequer resources.
“With so many government programmes vying for funding, we have occasionally experienced delays in disbursing school capitation. However, we remain committed to supporting our learners,” he said.
The release of the funds is expected to stabilise school operations and allow institutions to resume normal learning activities. School heads are now being called upon to manage the resources responsibly and maintain transparency in their expenditures.
