Govt insists free day secondary education is intact despite funding crisis
By Kenneth Mwenda, July 26, 2025The government has moved to reassure Kenyans that the Free Day Secondary Education programme remains fully in place, dismissing concerns raised after top officials admitted to severe funding gaps during a parliamentary session.
In a statement released on Saturday, July 26, 2025, and posted on X by Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba clarified that basic education remains a constitutional right under Article 53, and that the government has neither the intention nor the legal power to withdraw or limit the programme.
This comes just a day after a dramatic appearance before the National Assembly’s Education Committee, where CS Ogamba and his National Treasury counterpart, FCPA John Mbadi Ng’ong’o, told lawmakers that the government was struggling to sustain the programme due to limited resources.
The two leaders admitted that the capitation being disbursed to schools had consistently fallen below the approved rate of Ksh 22,244 per learner per year.
“The truth of the matter is we don’t have the capacity to finance Free Primary Education and Free Day Secondary Education. Let us not live a lie,” Mbadi told MPs, citing high public debt repayments and competing national priorities.
Government reaffirms education commitment
However, in Saturday’s press statement, CS Ogamba struck a more reassuring tone, stating that while underfunding was a reality, the government was working to close the gap.
“Free and compulsory basic education is a constitutional right of every child. The Government has neither the intention nor the power to abrogate this sacrosanct right,” he said.
The Ministry of Education and the National Treasury, he added, will continue to lobby Parliament to allocate more funds toward education to meet the rising demand brought on by the government’s 100% transition policy.
During the committee session, MPs expressed outrage over underfunding and allegations of corruption within the education sector. Some lawmakers claimed that funds had been allocated to non-existent schools, and called for a review of the current education funding policy.
Despite the uproar, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all learners are funded at approved rates and that quality education remains accessible.
“The Government will work to fulfil its duty of providing access to quality education for all our children,” Ogamba emphasised.