Capitation funding and textbook procurement escalate under CBC transition — government announcement

The Kenyan government is set to disburse approximately Sh21 billion in capitation funds to public schools this week, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced. The funds are intended to support school heads in planning for the ongoing second term.
Speaking at the Naivasha Education Conference, which brought together education officers and stakeholders nationwide, CS Ogamba urged officials to closely monitor the use of government funds to ensure they are properly utilized. He warned against charging illegal levies, emphasizing that schools must adhere strictly to ministry policy.
The Auditor General’s report alleges some school principals sneak in additional levies without following procedures. While these claims are not fully validated, they should prompt us to continuously examine our financial systems to prevent legal conflicts, CS Ogamba said.
Under the Free Primary Education (FPE) program, the government allocates Sh1,420 per primary school learner and Sh15,042 per junior secondary student annually. For secondary schools, capitation was Sh22,244 per learner but has recently been reduced to approximately Sh15,000 per year. Funds are disbursed in three phases: 50% in term one, 30% in term two, and 20% in term three. In March, schools received the remaining Sh14 billion for the first term.
Despite these allocations, some school principals have raised concerns over inadequate funding and discrepancies between student rolls and disbursement figures, which sometimes leaves schools struggling financially. A portion of the capitation is also retained by the Ministry for purposes such as capacity building and co-curricular activities.
CS Ogamba further announced that Grade 9 candidates have been successfully registered for their first national assessment ahead of transitioning to Senior School. He urged all stakeholders to intensify preparations for the implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system in Senior Schools next year.
In the next three months, education officers are expected to oversee the selection exercise for Senior Schools. This will be the premier class to undergo selection under the CBE system, and any challenges faced by candidates must be addressed, CS Ogamba said.
The government’s timely disbursement of capitation funds is seen as a crucial step in supporting public schools amid growing concerns about educational financing and resource allocation.