Secondary school principals across the country have raised a red flag over the delayed release of capitation funds, warning that the situation has pushed many learning institutions to the brink of collapse.
Through their umbrella body, the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA), the principals have demanded the immediate disbursement of over Sh36 billion owed to schools for the 2025 academic year.
Speaking during a press briefing held in Murang’a, KESSHA National Chairperson Willy Kuria said that the underfunding has placed schools in a critical financial position, making it increasingly difficult to run basic operations.
He noted that the delays have primarily affected day schools, which depend entirely on government funding, adding that the situation has become unsustainable.
According to him, “These financial constraints have severely impacted the smooth running of many institutions, with day schools bearing the brunt.”
The government is expected to provide Sh22,244 annually per student through capitation, released in three phases across the year—50 per cent in the first term, 30 per cent in the second, and 20 per cent in the third. However, the actual amounts disbursed so far in 2025 have fallen short.
Kuria revealed that during Term I, schools received only Sh8,818 per student instead of the expected Sh11,122, resulting in a shortfall of Sh2,304.
In Term II, the funding was reduced further, with only Sh3,471 disbursed out of the targeted Sh6,673, creating a funding gap of Sh3,202 per student. For Term III, which was supposed to be funded at Sh4,449 per learner, no funds have been released yet.
The total amount owed to schools amounts to Sh36,661,364,184, based on a student population of 3,280,182.
The delayed capitation has had a direct and painful impact on daily school operations. Many schools are unable to pay suppliers or settle bills for water and electricity. There are growing concerns that several institutions may be disconnected from essential services or forced to close their doors altogether.
“Some schools will close at the earliest opportunity, and even so, they still can’t pay salaries for the staff employed by the boards of management. Others will have their electricity and water disconnected,” Kuria cautioned.
The funding crisis impacts students’ academic progress beyond administrative challenges. Teachers have had to reduce exams because of resource shortages.
KESSHA Secretary-General Abdi Noor Haji mentioned that some schools can’t print full exam papers or support science practicals, risking student readiness for national exams. “Teachers are forced to avoid giving complete examination papers and omit practicals,” Haji explained.
Schools catering to learners with disabilities are among the hardest hit. These institutions, which require more resources to meet the specialised needs of their students, have continued to receive the same capitation as regular schools.
Kuria noted that the situation has exposed the government’s funding policy as inadequate and unfair, especially to vulnerable learners. “The official observed that schools catering for learners with special needs have also been affected by the funding shortfalls, even though more money is needed for their well-being,” he said.
In response to the crisis, KESSHA is calling for a review of the free education policy. The association is advocating for a return to the cost-sharing model that was in place before 2017. Under that model, parents contributed a portion of school fees while the government supported the remaining cost.
Kuria argued that the current model, where the government is solely responsible for capitation, has proven unsustainable. He recalled that before 2017, the standard tuition fee per student was Sh22,244, and though the government took over this responsibility, it has consistently failed to meet the full obligation.
“We hoped that a secure timetable would be released for schools to pay salaries for our staff. Most schools have limited access to sports, modern agriculture and clubs that enrich students’ education experiences and provide avenues for careers,” Kuria added. He said the current state of affairs has left learners without access to essential programmes that are crucial to their holistic development.
In its formal statement, KESSHA also recommended that the government stop tying infrastructure funding to capitation and instead establish a separate channel to finance construction and school improvement.
The statement read, “The essential minimum package is supposed to insulate the system and sustain them on everyday basics. We call for vaccination from the restrictive tie to retain infrastructure funds from capitation. Alternative funds should be sought for infrastructure development in schools.”
Despite repeated appeals to the Ministry of Education, there has been no official response from Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba. The association said that the silence from the government is making school management more difficult, especially with Term III set to begin without any capitation disbursement.
Principals are warning that if funds are not released soon, the disruption could affect national examinations, school reopening, and the general stability of public education in Kenya. The looming crisis, they say, should not be ignored any longer.
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