Kenya’s ambitious education reforms could be derailed as parents raise the alarm over drastic cuts in school funding, which threaten to reverse gains made under the Free Primary and Day Secondary Education programs.
The government recently reduced the capitation for each senior secondary learner from Sh22,244 to Sh16,428, leaving a funding gap of over Sh5,000 per student. Treasury CS John Mbadi admitted to the National Assembly Education Committee last week that the government is unable to fully sustain the programs due to fiscal constraints.
This revelation has sparked widespread concern among stakeholders. National Parents Association Chair Silas Obuhatsa called the move ill-timed and potentially devastating.
“Parents are still reeling from post-Covid economic hardship. Reducing school funding now risks pushing thousands of children—especially in rural and informal urban areas—out of classrooms,” he said.
In a bid to allay fears, President William Ruto reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to free education. Speaking in Nairobi’s Kariobangi area, Ruto called education “a national priority that cannot be compromised.”
“Our biggest asset is our human capital. That is why education is critical,” the President noted. He also pledged to deepen partnerships with religious institutions to ensure quality and accessible education for all Kenyan children.
However, the crisis remains pressing. Public schools across the country are already grappling with debt, lack of supplies, and an inability to pay non-teaching staff.
Analysts warn that unless the government acts swiftly, the cuts could derail recent curriculum reforms and undermine years of progress in universal education access.
Separately, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki highlighted significant gains in education infrastructure, including the construction of over 23,000 new classrooms and the recruitment of 76,000 teachers since 2022. A further 24,000 teachers are set to be hired by December 2025.
Yet even these efforts could be overshadowed by the funding shortfall. Stakeholders are calling for urgent, targeted interventions to secure the future of Kenya’s free education policy, especially for vulnerable learners.
