President William Ruto has moved to calm public anxiety over reduced government support for free basic education, assuring Kenyans that his administration remains firmly committed to safeguarding access, quality, and affordability in the education sector.
Speaking at St Martins Light Industries Anglican Church in Nairobi’s Kariobangi estate on Sunday, Ruto emphasized that education is a non-negotiable priority.
“Education cannot be compromised. We cannot compromise access, quality, affordability, or relevance,” the President stated, underscoring education’s role as a foundation for national development.
This comes after Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi told Parliament that the government had slashed capitation for Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) from Sh22,244 to Sh16,428 per learner—a reduction of Sh5,816. For primary school learners, capitation remains at Sh1,420, while junior secondary students are allocated Sh15,042.
The funding shortfall has alarmed parents, educators, and civil society groups, especially as schools reopen for the third term. Many institutions are struggling with mounting debts, unpaid non-teaching staff, and constrained operational budgets. Fears are growing that students—especially in rural and low-income urban areas—could drop out in large numbers.
Silas Obuhatsa, the National Parents Association chairperson, expressed concern over the cuts. “This news shocked parents. Many are still recovering from COVID-19-related job losses. This move could push thousands of learners out of school,” he warned.
President Ruto defended the government’s broader education policy, citing continued investment in human capital development. “The greatest gift God has given Kenya is our people. Our biggest asset is our human capital,” he said.
He added that the government would strengthen its collaboration with religious organizations to ensure quality and relevant education for all.
Meanwhile, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki highlighted major achievements in the education sector over the past two years, including the recruitment of 76,000 teachers since 2022 and the construction of over 23,000 new classrooms to support the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) transition.
Despite the current financial strain, Ruto’s remarks signal that education remains a central pillar of his administration. However, education stakeholders say the government must urgently find a way to bridge the funding gap and protect Kenya’s free education model from collapse.
