Thousands of students across Kenya could be sent home next week due to a severe financial crisis affecting public secondary schools. This alarming situation has emerged after the government failed to release over Ksh21 billion in capitation funds meant to support schools in the second term.
According to the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA), the delay has left many institutions on the brink of collapse.
School heads are expressing deep concern over the prolonged delays, stating that the lack of funding is jeopardizing their ability to run critical operations. From paying suppliers and supporting administrative functions to maintaining infrastructure, the financial crunch has disrupted nearly every aspect of school management.
In a press briefing on Saturday, May 3, the administrators did not hide their frustration. One school head emphasized that delays in receiving funds severely affect how schools function, particularly when it comes to settling bills with suppliers.
“When there is a delay in government funding, we are unable to pay suppliers on time. This, in turn, affects the timely delivery of goods and services,” said one principal.
More concerning is the growing fear that schools may be forced to send students home if the financial constraints persist. With mounting debts and strained resources, institutions are now at a crossroads, having to make difficult decisions to keep schools operational.
The heads of institutions are calling on the government to expedite the disbursement process to prevent the looming crisis. “The delays don’t just affect our operations—they also affect the academic performance of students. We’re appealing to the government to fast-track the release of funds,” a concerned school leader added.
Ironically, this financial turmoil comes just one day after Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba assured the public that the government plans to release the overdue capitation funds in the coming week.
Speaking during the Naivasha Education Conference on May 2, Ogamba confirmed that Ksh21 billion would soon be released to public schools to help stabilize the second term, which began earlier in the week.
However, Ogamba also acknowledged the government’s challenges in fulfilling its financial obligations. He attributed the delay to strained national resources, noting that the education sector already receives about 30% of the national budget.
“Some of the programs we support are extremely costly. Because of this, we occasionally experience delays in disbursing capitation funds,” Ogamba explained.
While addressing the crisis, the Education CS also issued a stern warning to school heads against imposing unauthorized levies on parents. He emphasized that the Ministry does not support any extra charges and that schools must operate within the approved financial guidelines.
As the government scrambles to release the funds, the fate of thousands of students hangs in the balance. The next few days will be critical in determining whether learning continues uninterrupted or if schools are forced to send students home due to financial paralysis.
All eyes are now on the Ministry of Education to act swiftly and avert what could be a nationwide school shutdown.
