Sh66b funding gap pushes public schools to breaking point
Education
By
Mike Kihaki
| Mar 23, 2026
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]
Public schools across the country are staring at an uncertain future as chronic underfunding by the government continues.
School heads are struggling to keep institutions running and millions of learners are at risk of dropping out.
From delayed capitation to shrinking school feeding budgets and dilapidated infrastructure, the strain on the basic education sector is becoming increasingly visible. Lawmakers are now warning of a looming crisis that could reverse gains made in access to education.
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Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Education last week, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok laid bare the scale of the funding gaps in the 2025/2026 Supplementary Estimates I, revealing a system under immense financial pressure.
Out of the Sh180.5 billion required for the sector, only Sh115.6 billion has been made available, leaving a staggering deficit of over Sh66 billion.
The situation is particularly dire in secondary schools, where the government requires Sh74.5 billion to fully fund capitation for over 3.4 million learners. Only Sh51.8 billion has been allocated, leaving a deficit of Sh22.6 billion.
This gap threatens to undermine the policy of free day secondary education, with principals warning that parents could soon be forced to shoulder additional costs.
The impact of this shortfall is already being felt on the ground.
Kenya Secondary School Heads Association chairman Willie Kuria said delayed and inadequate capitation has made it difficult to run day-to-day operations, forcing some institutions to cut back on essential services while others are accumulating debts.
“We have always said we are operating on empty but nobody seems to understand our tribulations. Suppliers are no longer willing to give us goods on credit because of unpaid bills. We are struggling to provide meals, learning materials, and even basic utilities,” said Mr Kuria.
Junior secondary schools, a key pillar of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), are also grappling with a significant shortfall. Against a requirement of Sh49.8 billion, only Sh28.9 billion has been approved, leaving a deficit of Sh20.9 billion.
Primary schools are not spared either. The government requires Sh9.4 billion but has allocated just Sh7 billion, leaving a gap of Sh2.4 billion for over 6.3 million learners.
For many headteachers, this means making impossible choices.
“You have to decide whether to repair a classroom, buy textbooks, or pay for electricity. All these are critical, but the funds are simply not enough,” said a headteacher in a primary school in Kakamega County.
Members of Parliament have now raised alarm over the situation, warning that the funding crisis could have far-reaching consequences on access to education, especially among vulnerable learners.
Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera cautioned that the underfunding of the school feeding programme could push children out of school.
“The impact of this shortage of funds is severe. We are talking about children who depend on this programme to stay in school. Without adequate funding, we risk increased absenteeism and dropout rates,” he said.
Prof Bitok told the Committee that while Sh12.7 billion is needed to fully fund the school feeding programme, only Sh4.7 billion has been provided.
The programme, which supports about 2.6 million learners mainly in arid and semi-arid areas, is a lifeline for children from food-insecure households. Kibra MP Peter Oreo argued that the programme should be expanded to include urban informal settlements, where poverty levels are equally high.