Kenya’s secondary schools are in crisis as the government owes institutions Sh65 billion in unpaid capitation over nine years, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba revealed to Parliament’s Education Committee.

MPs expressed shock at how principals have managed to keep schools running despite massive budget deficits and inadequate government disbursements for classroom construction and operations.

Current allocation breakdowns reveal systematic underfunding. Primary school learners receive Sh1,420 annually, but only Sh36.44 reaches schools directly—the remaining Sh40 stays with the ministry for co-curricular activities. Junior Secondary School students are allocated Sh15,043 per learner, while secondary students should receive Sh22,244 each.

However, actual disbursements fall far short. For Term 1 2025, the ministry disbursed only Sh4.1 billion to 5.8 million primary learners, Sh15.3 billion to 2.9 million JSS students (50 percent of annual entitlement), and Sh28.8 billion for 3.3 million secondary learners across 9,513 schools.

Systemic problems

Ogamba (pictured) admitted the ministry never receives requested treasury allocations, warning that continued underfunding threatens education quality. He proposed ring-fencing education funds to address the crisis.

“If we continue like this, it will be difficult to run the sector,” Ogamba stated, acknowledging that deficits keep accumulating as student numbers grow while funding remains static.

Parliamentary concerns

Committee chair Julius Melly (Tinderet MP) demanded an audit of activity fees, questioning why over 50 percent remains at ministry headquarters rather than reaching schools. He called the Sh65 billion arrears “regrettable” and warned the funding crisis could become a constitutional issue.

Kibra MP Peter Orero noted that secondary schools typically receive only Sh16,700 of their Sh22,000 annual entitlement, split across three unequal instalments.