Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has moved to quell public anxiety over recent remarks that cast doubt on the sustainability of Kenya’s free education programme, saying his comments were misquoted and taken out of context.
Speaking at a rally in Nyatike on Saturday, Mbadi clarified that his earlier statements were directed at policymakers — specifically Members of Parliament — and were meant to rally support for increased funding for capitation in the national budget.
“I was speaking to policymakers. I was speaking to members of Parliament who approve the budget,” Mbadi said.
“I told them we must enhance the budget for capitation so that every child receives 22,000 shillings. What we have in the budget today is less than 22,000.”
The clarification comes in the wake of public backlash following Mbadi’s appearance before a parliamentary committee last week, where he appeared to suggest that the government could no longer fully shoulder the cost of free education.
His comments were widely interpreted as a signal that parents might soon be required to contribute to school fees — an implication that sparked concern among parents and education stakeholders.
Currently, government capitation for basic education has declined, with the per-student allocation dropping from Ksh.22,000 to around Ksh.17,000. Education experts warn that the shortfall is straining school operations and could compromise learning outcomes.
However, Mbadi was quick to point out that the funding gap is not a new phenomenon.
“This has been happening from the time of former President Uhuru Kenyatta,” he noted.
“We don’t want schools to accumulate debts the same way universities have been accumulating debts.”
He urged Members of Parliament to work closely with the Treasury to address the shortfall and preserve the integrity of the free education system.
“We must work with Parliament to make sure that we have enough money to run our schools,” Mbadi said.
Seeking to reassure the public, the Treasury boss firmly reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting parents from the burden of school fees.
“Don’t create panic among parents. Parents are not supposed to pay fees, and we are not going to allow parents to pay fees. We will make money available to support them. That is what I said,” he emphasized.
President William Ruto also weighed in on the matter on Sunday, while attending a church service at ACK St Martin’s Light Industries Church in Kariobangi, Nairobi. The President reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering support for free, quality, and accessible education for all children.
“I assure you that the access and quality of education cannot be compromised,” said President Ruto. “Education is the greatest gift a society can give to its young people.”
He added that the government is not only focused on keeping education affordable and inclusive, but also on enhancing its quality to match the country’s long-term development agenda.
