Thousands of students in public schools across Kenya face an uncertain future due to the government’s delay in disbursing over Ksh48.3 billion in capitation funds meant for schools.
This funding delay has forced some headteachers to send learners home, claiming they lack the necessary resources to sustain school operations without the funds.
The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association chairman, Willy Kuria, has urged the government to release the overdue capitation funds.
He explained that the situation has become so severe that some school heads have no choice but to send students home over unpaid school fees.
Kuria further emphasized that many schools were forced to close last year with large amounts of unpaid debts due to the government failing to provide the full capitation amount.
He pointed out that a significant portion of school staff and support personnel remain unpaid, making it difficult for schools to run smoothly.
School principals clarified that their decision to send students home was not meant to punish families but was the only viable solution left under the current financial strain.
Kuria explained, “The main issue is that last year, schools were not fully funded, with each student missing Ksh7,000 out of the expected Ksh22,000.
That money was never provided, forcing schools to shut down while still owing debts, including unpaid salaries.”
A report by Kenyans.co.ke confirmed that numerous students from public secondary schools have already been sent home.
Parents have also reported being pressured to clear pending fee balances despite having paid part of the required amounts for the new term.
For example, a mother from Siaya County disclosed that her daughter was sent home on the first day of school despite her having paid Ksh5,000 out of the total Ksh14,000 required for the term.
She sent additional money afterward, yet the principal still sent her daughter home.
“The principal insisted they had not received funds from the government and could only keep students in school if the pending balances were fully cleared,” the concerned parent explained.
This financial crisis continues to threaten learning across the country, with the situation made worse by delays in bursary and scholarship disbursements from the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF).
Many learners remain out of school as parents struggle to clear fee arrears amidst economic hardships.
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