The Ministry of Education has mandated that all schools in Kenya must register on the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS) to remain eligible for government funding.
The directive, issued by Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok on Saturday, June 6, emphasizes the compulsory nature of the registration, with schools not included in the system facing exclusion from third-term capitation funds.
“The Kenyan government is implementing the KEMIS, Kenya Education Management Information System, and we require all schools, whether public or private, to be registered on the platform,” stated PS Bitok.
He explained that the system aims to consolidate all educational institutions into a single digital platform, with all capitation payments processed through KEMIS beginning with the third term.
Once fully implemented, KEMIS will unify Kenya’s entire education sector, encompassing primary, junior, and senior schools, TVET institutions, universities, and key agencies including KNEC, KICD, SEPU, and the Higher Education Loans Board, serving both public and private institutions.
“Third-term capitation will be distributed via KEMIS. Therefore, any institution not on the system will not receive funding. This is the government’s clear position,” PS Bitok declared.
He further described the platform as a comprehensive management solution for the education sector, integrating all educational levels and key institutions into a unified digital database.
“It will provide a centralized platform for the entire education sector, covering primary, junior, and senior schools, TVETs, universities, all our agencies such as KNEC, KICD, SEPU, and the Higher Education Loans Board. Every institution, including private schools, must be on KEMIS,” he explained.
The system is currently being implemented nationwide, with the government actively enrolling additional institutions in preparation for third-term disbursements.
PS Bitok also emphasized that the initiative aims to address concerns raised by parents and teachers by resolving capacity issues within the recently established system.
“This will address the funding gaps in our new education framework and improve the efficiency of the capitation distribution process for schools,” stated PS Bitok.
The rollout follows recommendations from the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms, which called for a unified data and management system across the education sector.
Private schools will also be required to comply, as the government anticipates full participation from both public and private educational institutions, making KEMIS a universal requirement throughout Kenya’s education system.
The ministry reported that the system upgrade is in progress and expressed optimism about achieving complete enrollment across all educational institutions in the near future.