As secondary schools across Kenya struggle with shrinking budgets, delayed capitation and growing pressure to increase school fees, a political fundraiser in Migori County has reignited a question: if politicians can effortlessly produce millions in cash at rallies, why does the education sector remain trapped in constant financial distress?

The question emerged after an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) grassroots mobilisation event in Migori on Saturday, June 27, 2026, where leaders allied to President William Ruto and ODM raised a staggering Ksh35 million in contributions within minutes, once again putting the country’s spending priorities under sharp public scrutiny.

During the event held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announced a personal contribution of Ksh1.5 million as he urged the Luo community to rally behind Ruto ahead of future political realignments.

The ease with which millions exchanged hands has now triggered uncomfortable questions: where is all this money coming from, and if it exists so freely in politics, why can it not be directed to sectors already gasping for survival, particularly schools?

Principals warn schools are running out of money

Even as political leaders publicly donate millions, secondary school principals meeting in Mombasa warned that schools are now operating under severe financial pressure caused by delayed government capitation and an outdated funding model.

The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association demanded urgent reforms.

“The conference resolved to petition the government to urgently review the current student unit cost to reflect prevailing inflationary pressures and the actual cost of delivering quality education,” KESSHA chair Abdi Noor stated.

School heads warned that institutions are increasingly struggling to fund food, learning materials, accommodation and daily operations, with some schools forced to cut essential services.

Parents now face threat of fresh fee increase

As schools struggle financially, education stakeholders have proposed increasing school fees by 60 per cent a move already facing backlash from lawmakers who argue ordinary Kenyans are already financially overstretched.

Emmanuel Wangwe strongly rejected the proposal, warning parents simply cannot carry another burden.

“Wakisema wapandishe school fees by 50 per cent watoto wetu watasoma kweli? Economy iko mbaya, maisha ni mbaya,” Wangwe said.

Millions for politics, but classrooms remain neglected

Only months earlier, President Ruto had publicly assured Kenyans that no child would be sent home because of school fees, insisting government capitation would continue protecting access to education.

“No child should be sent home from any day school because of matters of school fees, because the government is going to cover the education of our children,” Ruto said earlier this year.

Yet as schools struggle to survive, parents face possible fee hikes and principals warn learning standards are deteriorating, Migori’s Sh35 million political fundraiser has once again exposed a contradiction difficult for many Kenyans to ignore.

In a country where millions can suddenly appear in political rallies, classrooms continue waiting for money that never seems to come.