Mbadi clarifies stand on free education after uproar
By Valerian Khakayi, July 27, 2025The Treasury Cabinet Secretary, John Mbadi, has come out to clarify his earlier remarks on the sustainability of Kenya’s free education programme, following public uproar and concern from parents.
Speaking during an event on Sunday, July 27, 2025, Mbadi insisted that his comments had been misunderstood and misreported, stating that his message was directed at policymakers and members of Parliament, urging them to increase the capitation budget to fully support the government’s free basic education policy.
“I was speaking to policymakers; I was speaking to members of parliament who approve the budget, and I told them we must enhance the budget for capitation so that every child receives Ksh 22,000. What we have in the budget today is less than Ksh 22,000,” Mbadi said.
He maintained that the government’s commitment to free basic education remains intact and assured parents that there are no plans to reintroduce school fees.
“If you want me to lie to Kenyans, I am not ready to lie to Kenyans. We must budget so that every child is supported as the policy says,” he added.
The CS emphasised that the government is working closely with Parliament to ensure adequate funding for schools, warning against allowing institutions to accumulate debts due to underfunding.
Mbadi further urged the public not to panic, saying the government will ensure the free education policy is fully funded and implemented.
“We do not want the schools to accumulate debts, we must work with parliament to make sure we have enough money to run our schools,” he said.
“The government will make sure that we have enough money to support our children in school, so do not create panic to parents. They are not supposed to pay fees, and we will not allow parents to pay fees. We will make money available to support them; that is what I said.”
His clarification comes amid growing concern that recent remarks could signal a shift away from the long-standing free education programme. However, Mbadi’s reaffirmation seeks to calm fears and reinforce the government’s pledge to ensure every Kenyan child has access to quality, free education.
Ruto on free education
This comes after President William Ruto reassured Kenyans that free primary and secondary school education remains a constitutional right for all children in the country, following public uproar over proposals to scale back funding for the programme.
Speaking during a church service in Kariobangi on Sunday, July 27, 2025, the president emphasised that the government remains fully committed to ensuring universal access to education.
“Elimu ya watoto wetu ni ya muhimu sana; nataka nihakikishie Wakenya ya kwamba free primary education for primary and secondary ni haki ya kikatiba ya wananchi wa taifa la Kenya,” Ruto said.
”In the last 2 years we have done a lot to make sure that education is truly universal and truly accessible because the commitment we have is that education is the greatest empowerment that any society can give to its young people, and that is why education must be affordable, must be accessible, must be of good quality, and must be relevant, and that is why we have invested in building schools.”