Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has clarified his controversial remarks regarding the government’s ability to sustain school capitation, stating that he was addressing policymakers and Members of Parliament responsible for approving national budgets.
Speaking on Sunday, Mbadi explained that his comments were meant to urge Parliament to allocate sufficient funds to the education sector, ensuring that every child receives the required capitation support. He emphasized that current budgetary provisions fall short of the government’s own policy targets.
“I was speaking to policymakers, I was speaking to Members of Parliament who approve the budget and I told them that we must enhance the budget for capitation so that every child receives Sh22,000,” Mbadi said. “What we have in the budget today is less than Sh22,000. I’m not ready to lie to Kenyans. We must budget so that every child is supported, as the policy says.”
According to government policy, each student in a day secondary school should receive Sh22,000 annually, junior secondary students Sh15,000, and primary school learners Sh1,400. Mbadi, however, admitted that the Treasury has never been able to meet the Sh22,000 per learner target fully.
He urged parents not to panic, reassuring them that the government remains committed to funding education. “Parents are not supposed to pay school fees and we will not allow them to pay school fees. We will make money available to support children in schools,” he affirmed.
On Friday, Mbadi pointed fingers at Parliament, accusing lawmakers of consistently approving budgets that are insufficient to meet the needs of learners in public schools. “We disbursed the whole amount allocated in the budget, but still, it is not enough,” he noted.
Mbadi’s remarks come amid public concern over potential cost burdens being shifted to parents, especially in the wake of rising economic pressures. His call for increased funding signals a push for Parliament to prioritize education in future budget cycles to fully support the country’s Free Day Secondary Education policy.
