Butere MP Tindi Mwale has issued a strong appeal to ODM leader Raila Odinga, urging him to use his political influence to press the government into resolving the ongoing school capitation crisis.

Mwale’s call comes just a day after the government announced that free education is unsustainable. 

Speaking during the ODM party National Delegate Conference in Kakamega on Friday, July 25, 2025, he warned that unless urgent action is taken, education could become a luxury for the rich, locking out millions of children from poor backgrounds.

“I will do my work accordingly. We cannot clap for Cabinet Secretary for Treasury John Mbadi for slashing the Ksh6000 capitation fee. He is the son of ODM. We will talk to him.

“Raila has always stood for equal access to education. This is the moment for him to lead the push and demand the immediate release of outstanding capitation funds.”

Mwale, who chairs the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, raised the alarm following the release of a special audit by his committee. The report revealed that Kenya’s public schools had been underfunded by a massive Ksh117 billion between the 2020/21 and 2023/24 financial years. Of this, secondary schools bore the largest burden, facing a Ksh71 billion shortfall. Junior secondary and primary schools were also affected, with deficits of Ksh31.9 billion and Ksh14 billion, respectively.

Situation is dire

According to Mwale, the situation on the ground is dire. Principals have been left with no option but to levy extra charges on parents, making education increasingly unaffordable.

“Schools cannot meet basic operational needs without proper funding. Capitation delays are driving vulnerable learners out of the classroom,” he said.

He cited the current capitation rate of Ksh22,244 per child per year as grossly inadequate, especially in the face of rising inflation. In some years, schools have only received Ksh17,000 per student, forcing parents to fill the gap. The worst-hit institutions are day secondary schools, which rely entirely on capitation to pay BOM teachers, run school programs, and purchase supplies.

 “The children of this country should not suffer because of poor budget implementation. This is about fairness, and about protecting the future of Kenya,” he said.

He called on Azimio leaders, parents, school heads, and civil society to push for timely, adequate, and transparent disbursement of capitation funds, saying that public education may no longer be a path out of poverty, but a mirror of it.