Teachers threaten to close schools over State’s delay of capitation funds
By Alvin Mwangi, July 12, 2025Teachers have issued a stern warning to the government, threatening to shut down schools within a week if the Ministry of Education fails to release capitation funds for the current school term.
Speaking during the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) National Governing Council meeting on July 11, 2025, the union’s Secretary General, Akelo Misori, said that schools are under immense financial strain, with many institutions struggling to retain learners due to unpaid school fees.
“Principals are really struggling to keep learners in school. They have waited for the government to release the capitation funds, but it is taking too long,” said Misori.
“With the current economic hardships, most parents have not paid school fees. If nothing is done soon, it will be impossible to keep these schools running. The only viable option left may be to send students home,” he said.
Paralysed operations
According to Misori, the government has only disbursed Ksh4,000 per student since January, far below the required Ksh22,244 per learner. This shortfall, he said, has paralysed school operations.
“From January to now, only Ksh4,000 has been released per student. That is drastically below the required amount. Schools need to pay for food, water, electricity, teaching materials, and co-curricular activities. Without proper funding, all these essential services are at risk,” Misori emphasised.
He further noted that head teachers are caught between trying to run institutions without money and managing frustrated parents who cannot afford to pay fees.
He warned that if the situation continues unaddressed, a nationwide shutdown of public secondary schools could be imminent.
In addition to the funding crisis, Kuppet has raised concerns over delays in the negotiation of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The current CBA, signed on July 13, 2021, is set to expire on June 30, 2025.
Misori stated that while talks have commenced with TSC, the union will not accept a new deal unless it includes substantial salary increments.
He revealed that Kuppet has already notified Labour and Social Protection, the Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, after TSC allegedly failed to respond to official communication regarding the proposed CBA.
“TSC has remained silent even after being served with our proposal. We have taken the necessary steps to involve the Ministry of Labour because we are not ready to accept anything that does not improve the welfare of our members,” said Misori.
Hardship allowance
Kuppet is demanding a 50 per cent increase in basic pay for teachers in higher job groups and a 100 per cent increase for those in lower grades. The union is also pushing for a harmonised house allowance, followed by a 20 per cent increment across all job groups.
“In our proposed CBA, we are also asking for a 200 per cent increase in commuter allowance for higher grades and a 250 per cent increase for lower cadres. These teachers are incurring significant transport costs, especially those working in rural and remote areas,” Misori noted.
He added that the union is also demanding a 100 per cent increment in hardship allowance and the introduction of a hazardous duty allowance equivalent to 20 per cent of a teacher’s basic salary.
Misori highlighted the need for additional financial support for teachers participating in co-curricular activities such as sports, drama, and music festivals.
“When teachers travel for sports or academic competitions, they should be paid daily subsistence allowances based on their salary scales. Right now, many end up spending out of pocket,” he said.
Flat rate
The union has also proposed a shift in the leave allowance policy, calling for teachers to be paid a one-month basic salary as leave allowance instead of the current flat rate system, which varies by job group.
Other proposals in the CBA include overtime allowances and risk allowances for teachers working in high-risk areas, such as those affected by banditry and insecurity in parts of northern and eastern Kenya.
Kuppet Chairperson Omboko Milemba echoed the secretary general’s sentiments and called on TSC, the Ministry of Labour and the National Assembly’s Education Committee to take responsibility and address the long-standing grievances of teachers.
“We must treat teachers with the dignity they deserve. They are the backbone of our education system. Ignoring their plight will only deepen the crisis in our schools,” said Milemba.
He also voiced strong opposition to proposals aimed at scrapping the national examination fee subsidy, warning that such a move would be a direct violation of the constitutional right to free and compulsory basic education.
“Examination fees are a critical component of basic education. Removing them undermines Article 53 of the Constitution, which guarantees every child the right to free and compulsory education. If we start charging exam fees again, we will be locking out thousands of poor children from progressing in their education,” Milemba warned.
As tensions mount in the education sector, the government is under pressure to act swiftly. Teachers and learners are now caught in the crossfire of funding delays and stalled negotiations — with the threat of school closures becoming increasingly real.