Public schools will begin receiving delayed capitation funds amounting to KES21 billion starting Monday, May 5th.

According to the ministry of Education, authorities have been engaging with the Treasury, which has committed to releasing KES21 billion for capitation to public schools before next week.

Speaking during the Inaugural Education Conference 2025, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba explained that the delay in releasing these funds was due to competition for resources among various state agencies.

"While the delay was unfortunate, we have been in constant consultation with the Treasury and are now committed to ensuring the funds are disbursed promptly. This support is critical in sustaining operations in public schools," CS Ogamba said.

This announcement comes amid panic calls from school heads and stakeholders, who have expressed frustration over the government’s failure to release capitation funds on time, a move that has affected learning as schools nationwide following the start of the second term. 

School heads have lamented that they are once again facing the challenge of delayed fund disbursement amid failed promises by the State.

Furthermore, this announcement comes just hours after the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) warned that learning in schools could be paralyzed due to financial constraints.

The CS also sent a warning to school heads against imposing illegal levies due to the funding delays, stating that those found responsible would face disciplinary action. He said, “We are aware that some Principals are collecting illegal levies from unsuspecting parents and this should come to an end. Any head teacher found culpable will face disciplinary action.”

Other than the funding matter, the CS also spoke on the transition of students from Grade nine to ten next year. According to Ogamba, the exercise had kicked off with the government engaging various stakeholders.

CS Ogamba also called for better oversight in the utilization of government funds and directed County Directors of Education to ensure accountability at the grassroots level and further urged county education officials to proactively address the perennial students unrest in the second term.

“We have seen a trend where cases of student unrest rise in the second term and are calling on heads of education and principals to stem this menace,” he observed.

His remarks were seconded by Professor Julius Bitok, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education, who admitted that there were gaps mainly in the issue of capitation that needed to be addressed.

“We shall be using the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) to address the gaps as we continue implementing various reforms,” he said.

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