The MPs expressed frustration to Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang that school heads must rely on an ideal per-student funding figure of Ksh 22,224—agreed upon during budgeting—while in reality, schools receive only Ksh 17,000 per learner. This shortfall, they argued, has plunged educational institutions into debt
Lawmakers have called on the government to permit primary, junior, and secondary schools to impose additional levies, citing concerns that current capitation funds are insufficient to support learners. Members of Parliament (MPs) on the Education Committee pressed Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang to address the financial struggles faced by school heads, particularly after he revealed that the National Treasury allocated only Ksh 54 billion for capitation against the Ksh 74 billion requested by his department.
The MPs expressed frustration that school heads are forced to rely on an ideal per-student funding figure of Ksh 22,224—agreed upon during budgeting—while in reality, schools receive just Ksh 17,000 per learner. This shortfall, they argued, has plunged educational institutions into debt. Committee Chairperson Julius Melly, MP for Tinderet, alongside MPs Peter Orero (Kibra), Clive Gisairo (Kituti Masaba), Nabii Nabwera (Lugari), Eve Obara (Kabondo Kasipul), Christine Ombaka (Siaya Woman Representative), and Dick Maungu (Luanda), urged Kipsang to ensure schools receive adequate funding to avoid disruptions.
Orero demanded transparency, pressing Kipsang to provide accurate figures on the capitation disbursed to schools. “Let school heads be allowed to charge extra levies to bridge the deficit,” he insisted. Melly echoed this sentiment, describing the capitation issue as a critical concern that Kipsang must champion during budget discussions. He revealed that the committee would soon review a petition questioning why secondary school students are now funded at just Ksh 17,000 per learner. “You propose a budget of Ksh 74 billion but receive Ksh 54 billion. Why not plan with Ksh 54 billion so the public understands the shortfall?” Melly asked. He added, “Schools are getting Ksh 17,000 per learner, but what’s actually disbursed is as low as Ksh 11,000—far below the Ksh 22,224 needed.”
Eve Obara urged Kipsang to abandon the Ksh 22,224 benchmark and budget based on actual funds received, protecting school heads from unmanageable commitments. “We need to know exactly what schools are getting,” she said. “Principals are suffering and have no choice but to send children home—are you aware that students are currently out of school?” Gisairo also sought clarity, asking, “Out of the Ksh 17,000 per child, you say only Ksh 3,000 has been disbursed. Which figure do you use for budgeting—Ksh 22,000 or Ksh 17,000?”
The MPs’ demands follow revelations from Kipsang that secondary schools face a Ksh 20 billion shortfall, receiving Ksh 54 billion against a Ksh 74 billion projection. He noted similar issues in Junior Secondary Schools, with a Ksh 16 billion gap (Ksh 30 billion received versus Ksh 46 billion needed), and a Ksh 1.2 billion deficit in Free Primary Education. Kipsang challenged MPs to secure adequate funding during the parliamentary budget process, noting that his ministry had disbursed 25% of available capitation funds at the year’s start, with the National Treasury pledging another 25% by next week—reaching 50% of allocated funds.
“For years, Kenya’s education system has grappled with insufficient capitation, leaving administrators unable to cover costs,” Kipsang lamented. “We can only submit a supplementary budget to Parliament, as we have today, and hope MPs will allocate funds to deliver on our promises to our children.” The push for extra levies reflects a desperate bid to sustain schools amid chronic underfunding, spotlighting a broader crisis in educational financing.
