Former senior Economic Adviser to the President, Moses Kuria, has voiced strong support for the Ministry of Education’s nationwide audit of school enrolment. He described the initiative as vital to stopping massive leakages in capitation funds.
Kuria revealed that Kenya loses nearly Sh12 billion each year to ghost schools and fictitious learners. “The education budget is about Sh700 billion, with Sh120 billion disbursed as capitation. We have been losing at least 10 percent or Sh12 billion every year to ghost schools and ghost students. I fully support the Ministry’s new policy: no verification, no capitation,” he said.
The Ministry is now requiring schools to submit accurate enrolment data before receiving government funding. Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said 32,000 public institutions, representing 98 percent of primary and secondary schools, have complied.
Currently, only 3,000 schools have received third-term capitation after full verification at Ministry headquarters. Bitok assured schools that funds would be credited immediately once cleared. “We expect all 32,000 schools to receive their money by the end of next week,” he said.
Schools must provide each learner’s Unique Personal Identifier (UPI), birth certificate, registration number, and certified bank account details. Verification is being coordinated through sub-county education offices. Secondary schools are leading in compliance, followed by junior schools, while some primary schools lag due to internet connectivity issues.
Bitok highlighted Masii Boys High School in Machakos as an example of early compliance, confirming that the school has already received its full allocation. He stressed that the process ensures accountability, protects learners, and safeguards taxpayers’ money.
The Ministry has extended the deadline for submission of enrolment data to Friday, September 12, 2025. Principals and county supervisors who fail to comply will face strict consequences, reinforcing the government’s commitment to transparency in education funding.
