Written by Alice Njoki.
Several public schools across Kenya have closed for the second term a week earlier than planned due to a severe shortage of government capitation funds. The government cut the capitation payment per secondary school student from KSh 22,244 to about KSh 16,900 and delayed payments owed to schools from the previous term. This has left thousands of schools struggling to pay for essentials like food for students and teaching supplies such as chalk. Many schools have also stopped sports, music, and drama activities, worsening students’ experience and well-being.
The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) says schools are using early closures as a last-ditch survival strategy amid the financial strain. Some head teachers, speaking anonymously, report difficulty paying teachers and staff and dealing with rising student unrest, including strikes and arson in more than ten secondary schools recently. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed schools are still owed money and promised payments will be made in the third term. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi cited budget cuts due to national financial constraints as the reason for lower funding.
If the funding crisis persists, parents could be forced to start paying school fees next term to cover the shortfall, overturning the long-standing policy of free public education. This is raising concerns among education leaders and parents about the future affordability and accessibility of schooling in Kenya.
The early closures also mean the third term, traditionally short but academically critical with national exams and assessments, will be even more pressured. School leaders warn that without urgent government action to resolve delayed and reduced funding, the education system faces potential collapse, with severe consequences for students and the nation’s development.
The delay and reduction in capitation funds are crippling public schools in Kenya, forcing premature closures, disrupting learning, and increasing instability. The possibility that parents may soon be required to pay fees further threatens to deepen the education crisis. Immediate government intervention is essential to prevent a full breakdown of the sector.
Reports indicate arrears totaling billions of shillings owed to schools since 2019, with challenges in meeting operational costs such as salaries, utilities, supplies, and student welfare. The situation is described as risking a collapse of the education system if not urgently addressed.