Schools in Turkana County Face Disruptions Over Delayed Government Funds
Headteachers in Turkana County have warned that they may shut down schools and disrupt learning if the government fails to release sufficient funding.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday at noon, Raphael Lotum, the Chairperson of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) in Turkana, revealed that many schools in the region are struggling with huge debts due to inadequate and delayed capitation funds.
He explained that the prolonged delays in disbursing government funds have left school heads with no choice but to consider closing down schools and sending students home. This, he stated, would continue until the government intervenes and provides the necessary financial support.
According to Lotum, while some schools have received funding, the money is not enough to meet their needs, including settling outstanding debts. He pointed out that the government was expected to release at least 50% of the total capitation, but instead, schools received much less.
“We received the capitation funds, but the amount was far below our expectations. We had anticipated 50% of the total amount, but unfortunately, we only received around 16%,” Lotum stated.
His concerns were echoed by Clare Obenyo, the Principal of Kangitit Girls High School, who revealed that schools were now appealing to the county government to assist them with relief food so that learning could continue without major disruptions.
“We are trying our best to keep students in school, but the situation is becoming unbearable. Right now, we cannot even afford to sustain co-curricular activities,” she lamented.
The warning from school heads came just a day after Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos assured school administrators that the government was working on resolving the issue of delayed capitation funds.
Speaking at Kereri Girls High School in Kisii County on Monday, February 17, Migos confirmed that an additional Ksh15 billion would be disbursed starting next week.
He explained that the delay in releasing funds was caused by financial constraints that the government is currently facing.
“For this term, the government was supposed to release 50% of the total capitation funds to secondary schools. So far, we have only managed to disburse 25% of that amount. However, there is a pending Ksh15 billion that will be released next week,” Migos assured parents and students.
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