The Opposition now demands that the government provide schools with the full Sh25 Billion that is purportedly owed to them in one big payment.
Opiyo Wandayi, the leader of the Minority Party, stated that the funds shouldn’t be withheld without valid justification.
He stated in his statement that the government ought to inform Kenyans if free primary and secondary education has been discontinued.
Mr. Wandayi asserted that since 2021, schools are owed about Sh52.8 Billion in free day School Education payments.
He added stating that funds are yet to be remitted to schools. Equally, there is neither any commitment nor indication when schools re-open for the second term, the monies will have been disbursed.
According to Mr. Wandayi, the government needs to start allocating capitation payments on time and disclose the payment schedule to students.
On the other hand, PS Belio Kipsang of the State Department of Basic Education stated on Monday that the government will disburse Sh16.25 billion next week to fund the capitation of free secondary education.
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According to PS, the sum equals 25% of the unpaid capitation that public secondary schools nationwide are still required to receive.
Mr. Belio Kipsang noted that 25% of the entire capitation payment has already been paid out by the government during his appearance before the Public Accounts Committee of the Nation Assembly
For the current Fiscal year, the government allotted Sh65 billion for the capitation of free secondary education.
The PS stated that although Sh65 billion had been allotted, the capitation per student would only be Sh17,000 because the amount had been reduced from Sh22,224 to accommodate all students.
Kipsang said on Monday, “This morning, I held discussions with my colleague from the National Treasury, and shortly we are releasing up to 25 percent of the outstanding capitation amount owed to secondary schools nationwide. We aim to ensure that by the end of this quarter, we can disburse 50 percent.”
“We expect that the allocated amount will be deposited into respective accounts within the next 10 days.”
On Tuesday, Wandayi urged teachers and parents to confront the issue head-on and stop shuttering in fear.
Mr Wanday continued, “Let it be known to all and sundry that things are not working; school heads have run out of ideas to run schools without money; and parents cannot afford the monies that they were promised that the government would cater for.”
