Ndindi: Gov't misleading Kenyans on Sh44.2bn capitation release

By Newsflash Reporter

Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro has accused the government of misleading Kenyans over the recently announced release of Sh44.2 billion in capitation funds for Term One of the 2026 academic year, arguing that the actual amount reaching schools is far lower.

Speaking to journalists in Nairobi, Nyoro said that despite official claims of full funding, only about Sh3.5 billion from the Sh44.2 billion disbursement would directly benefit senior secondary schools this term. He warned that the gap between government statements and actual disbursements risks crippling public education.

“The government should stop making promises and instead tell Kenyans the truth about what has actually been disbursed,” Nyoro said.

Discrepancies in capitation figures

Nyoro challenged the government’s assertion that the annual capitation per learner stands at Sh22,244, insisting that the figures do not match what schools have received. According to documents from his office dated January 6, 2026, schools last year received only Sh15,384 per learner, leaving a deficit of Sh6,860.

He questioned where the balance went, saying the issue should not be framed around promised allocations but actual cash released. “The truth should be on what has been and was disbursed, not on a promissory note,” he said.

The MP explained that after netting off last year’s outstanding balances, the amount released for Term One translates to only Sh109 per learner instead of the expected Sh11,122, which represents 50 per cent of the annual capitation as required by policy.

Sh22.5bn owed to Senior Schools

Nyoro revealed that senior secondary schools alone are owed a cumulative Sh22.5 billion for the 2025 academic year. He said this means that out of the recently released Sh26 billion, only Sh3.5 billion was allocated to Term One, leaving schools severely underfunded.

“This is defunding education, and it cannot be tolerated,” he said, warning that schools are being forced to accumulate debts to survive.

He noted that the funding shortfall has affected the provision of learning materials, payment of non-teaching staff, maintenance of infrastructure, co-curricular activities and overall education standards. He added that some schools are now relying on suppliers’ credit and parents’ contributions to keep operations running.

Call for immediate action

The Kiharu MP urged the government to take education financing seriously and stop politicising critical public services. He called for the immediate confirmation of Junior Secondary School interns, saying Article 223 of the Constitution should be invoked to secure funds for their employment.

Nyoro suggested that the required funds could be raised by cutting non-essential government expenditure, including what he described as excessive office renovations and administrative luxuries.

He also demanded the immediate release of full capitation for the current term, warning that what has been disbursed so far barely covers last year’s deficits. “Education is too important to be managed through half-truths,” Nyoro said, adding that transparency, accountability and timely disbursement must guide education financing decisions going forward.