John Mbadi, the Treasury Cabinet Secretary, has now confirmed that the government will not give the full KSh 22,000 per student for secondary education as it has done in the past. He said the country is facing financial constraints and can only manage to give KSh 17,000 per learner.
This comes at a time when school heads and parents have been raising concerns about delays and reduced support in public schools.
Mbadi explained that there simply isn’t enough money in the national budget to cover the full capitation. He added that people should accept the situation instead of, in his words, preferring fiction over facts.
Mbadi had earlier, in January 2025, promised that KSh 48.8 billion would be released to schools to support learning in public primary, junior secondary, and day secondary schools.
At the time, he also mentioned that the funds might not be sent all at once due to other national needs. His latest statement, however, has made it clear that even the full amount may not be available this financial year.
This has left school administrators confused and worried, especially those running day schools that depend entirely on government support.
Many Kenyans are questioning why the government made promises it knew it couldn’t fully keep. The idea of free day secondary education was built on the KSh 22,000 allocation. Reducing it by KSh 5,000 affects school operations, from buying materials to paying support staff.
Some schools are already feeling the pressure, and the fear is that this will push the burden to parents, many of whom are already struggling with the cost of living.
Instead of addressing these real concerns directly, Mbadi chose to accuse the public of not wanting the truth. But the truth is simple schools are getting less money, and no clear plan has been shared on how this gap will be managed.
The Ministry of Education is expected to work with school heads to adjust to the new amount, but without more clarity and planning, the cut could affect learning quality.
Mbadi’s explanation may reflect the reality of the government’s budget, but the way he handled the matter left many feeling dismissed. His focus should be on giving clear solutions and helping schools prepare, not shifting blame or challenging the public’s right to question decisions that affect their children.
