The government has announced that it will release Sh48.8 billion capitation to schools next week, urging learning institutions to be patient and stop panicking over delayed disbursements

Speaking in Kakamega County during the tour at Savonah Water Project in Shitaho Community in Shinyalu Constituency in the company of Governor Fernandes Barasa, Cabinet Secretary for Treasury John Mbadi dismissed claims that education is under crisis due to the delay in disbursement of capitation while assuring schools that the National Treasury will release money to schools by next week.

“Today and yesterday i have seen many stories in the Media that our education system is facing challenges because capitation has not been released, the reason why we have not released capitation is because this month we were to pay Sh70billion to foreign borrowers which have now completed and settled,” said Mbadi.

He added, ” Next week we will be releasing Sh48.8billion to schools as capitation money which is 50 percent of the entire year budget and therefore i want to tell our schools managers, school heads, and teachers not to panic because the national Treasury will release capitation money next week.”

CS Mbadi said education is a very critical sector that needs maximum attention.

“We need to fund our education because we 5believe our education system is a critical and important social function,” said Mbadi.

Mbadi’s assurance comes barely a week after schools opened for the first term. Secondary school heads have reported that the learning institutions were heading for financial crises as they opened their doors to 1.4 million learners joining Form One.

Furthermore, KUPPET officials on Friday threatened to shut down schools if the government does not receive money in one week.

Additionally, some 1.2 million learners will also join Junior Secondary School (JSS) as they transit from primary school under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

Principals who spoke to The Standard indicated that they had not received the funds by close of business on Friday despite reassurance from the ministry when schools reopened.

 On Monday Principal Secretary for Basic Education Dr. Belio Kipsang had assured schools that they will receive money by Friday a promise school heads say the money has not hit the school accounts.

“We want to assure our schools that the funds have been released. It is a process because of systems, the funds will be in the accounts by Wednesday or Friday latest,”

Kipsang said m during the release of KCSE results at Moi Girls School, Eldoret.

However, School Heads both for Secondary and Primary schools who spoke to the Standard said they are finding it hard to run schools without money considering this is the first term of the 2025 calendar that has a lot of activities to manage hoping that the CS assurance will materialize.

“We have many things to run as school heads, this is the year that we are having grade nine transition in our Junior Secondary Schools. In Secondary school, we have arrears to clear for our suppliers and other responsibilities to ensure we have a seamless education sector but it has become difficult because the government has not released money, we are happy with the CS announcement that next week schools will have money let us wait and see if the move will salvage the looming crisis,” said one of the school Principals.

The ministry in early January had indicated that Sh31 billion had been set aside for capitation to schools.

Out of the total funds, Sh4.74 billion will go towards Free Primary Education with Sh7.60 billion being capitation for JSSs for term one.

Some Sh2.80 billion is meant for school examination and invigilation fees while Sh16.20 has been factored in for Free Day Secondary School.

However, this week parents lamented higher extra levies urging the government to intervene and crack the whip on the rogue school heads besides increased school fees.

In Kakamega County parents who spoke to The Standard said some schools have increased school fees by slightly Sh1500 and Sh3500 from their usual school fee.

Isaac Juma, a parent at Shikoti Mixed Secondary School said he is yet to take his child to school after he received a fee structure with an additional Sh2,500 as school fees.

“I have seen a slight difference in the fee structure because last year I was paying Sh14,000 per year but with the new fee structure I am supposed to pay Sh16,500 and this is burdening parents and we need the government to intervene and crack the whip on school heads who are hiking school fee against the stipulated and approved school fee by the ministry,” said Juma.

James Situma, a parent in one of the schools in Kakamega town said some schools are charging parents foodstuff and money for motivation without the issuance of receipts.

Mary  Khasoha another parent lamented over the issue of the ream paper stating that schools are overcharging parents through the item.

“I have been buying one ream paper for a full year but this time I have been told to buy three ream papers per year and I am wondering the amount of work the three ream papers are going to do.

“These are schemes by school heads to increase school fees through projects that are outside the normal fee structure and the government should intervene to save parents otherwise some children from poor families might end up getting substandard education,” said Khasoha.

Hellen Nyang’au, Kakamega County Education Director said she had not received any complaints from parents over increased school fees and extra levies maintaining that school heads must adhere to the ministry’s policy which does not allow fee increments.

“Normally when we get such complaints from our parents, we launch investigations, and action is taken for those violating the policy, based on my knowledge I have not received any complaint. However, one thing schools and parents need to understand is that the government has pronounced itself on the matter and the policy is clear on the prescribed school fees, and as officials our work is to ensure the government t policy is adhered to,” said Nyang’au.