Parents and education stakeholders have welcomed the release of Sh44.1 billion in capitation funds by the government for the first term, 2026.
While appreciating the timely move, the stakeholders also called for sustained and adequate financing to support the full implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.
Speaking at Ihura Grounds in Murang’a County during the Murang’a County Education Day celebrations held under the Inua Masomo programme, stakeholders said the timely release of funds is critical in ensuring uninterrupted learning and quality education delivery.
They urged the government to continue prioritising education by allocating sufficient resources to support the ongoing rollout of the CBE system, noting that the new curriculum is resource-intensive and requires adequate infrastructure, learning materials, and trained teachers.
Parents attending the event praised the Inua Masomo programme, saying it has significantly reduced the financial burden of transitioning students to senior secondary school.
“This programme has helped many parents who were struggling to raise school fees. It has given our children a chance to continue with their education,” said Esther Wangeci, a parent.
She noted that although the release of capitation funds was a positive step, delays in previous years had strained school operations, particularly in public secondary schools.
“Schools depend heavily on capitation to run daily activities. When funds are delayed, learning is disrupted and the burden is transferred to parents who are already overstretched,” she noted.
Another parent, Peter Mwangi, said the economic situation has made it difficult for families to meet education costs.
“We have been relying on coffee and tea farming, but the returns have gone down. Paying school fees has become very difficult for many families,” Mwangi said.
Kinyona Ward MCA Liz Muthoni urged the government to prioritize education and consider vulnerable families, warning that some learners may fail to transition to Grade 10 due to lack of fees.
“Education must be prioritised and made affordable. Some children in Grade 9 may not be able to join Grade 10 because their parents cannot afford school fees,” Muthoni said.
She emphasised the need for targeted support for vulnerable households to ensure no learner is left behind.
“Quality education is the foundation of development. When our children are educated, they can contribute meaningfully to national growth,” she said.
Other stakeholders interviewed said the late release of funds has in recent years strained school operations and affected the smooth running of academic programmes, particularly in public secondary schools.
They noted that the sector continues to face numerous challenges, with delayed funding emerging as one of the key issues affecting the quality of education and reiterated that education should remain a national priority, as investing in learners today will translate into long-term social and economic development.
“The new education system is costly and requires proper funding, infrastructure and teacher support. Without adequate budgetary allocation, its success will be compromised because as parents we are unable to finance the education of our children wholly as much as we want to,” they added.
Murang’a County Assembly Majority Leader Sally Kibe said Parliament has put in place policies to guide education matters and called on the government to match these policies with sufficient budgetary support.
“We already have policies that guide education in this country. What is needed now is adequate funding and timely capitation to ensure smooth learning in our schools,” he said.
During the event, over 5000 students from all-day secondary schools across the county benefited from fully paid term one fees under the Inua Masomo Programme.
Additionally, top KJSEA candidates from all 520 public primary schools received support to transition to Junior secondary schools.
By Florence Kinyua
