Kindiki assures Kenyans school capitation will be restored to Ksh22,000
By Mabonga Makhanu, July 30, 2025Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has assured Kenyans that the government will not tamper with school capitation and that it will remain at KSh22,000 as it was previously.
While speaking in Tharaka Nithi on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Kindiki stated that the government cannot allow any backwards steps in the education sector after the progress that has already been made. He emphasised that all learners will continue to receive the required capitation amount, which is Ksh22,000.
“Hatiwezi kubali ati ile hatua tumepiga Mbele ati mambo ya Elimu turidi nyuma tena na tutahakikisha ahule zeru zote zitapata capitation ambayo inahitajika, ambayo ni Ksh22,000,” Kindiki said.
He further pointed out that the government will not interfere with the education system, warning that any attempt to undermine it would jeopardise the administration’s future, including the risk of being a one-term presidency.
Kindiki reaffirmed that every school will receive its capitation and stressed that the government will not play with education matters, as doing so would create serious problems.
“Every school will get its capitation; na serikali haiwezi cheza na masomo, kwa sababu tukicheza na Masomo, tutam italeta shida,” he added.
School capitation
This comes after the push and pull over the proposal to have school capitation scaled down. In July 2025, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announced a controversial plan to reduce secondary school capitation from Ksh22,244 to Ksh16,900per student, citing fiscal constraints and increasing enrolment.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Education Committee on July 24, Mbadi defended the proposed cut, explaining that the government has never fully met the Ksh 22,244 target, with actual disbursements averaging Ksh 17,000 even in previous administrations.
He accused Parliament of approving budgets that could not sustain full capitation, noting that the Ksh702.7 billion allocated to education for the 2025/2026 financial year was insufficient due to competing priorities such as debt repayment. Mbadi suggested reallocating 40% of the NG-CDF’s Ksh21 billion bursary fund to bridge the gap.
His remarks drew criticism from MPs and stakeholders, including the Council of Governors, forcing him to clarify that he was urging lawmakers to raise funding.