Members of Parliament on Thursday took Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos to task over persistent delays in disbursing capitation funds to schools, warning that underfunding could cripple the free education programme.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Committee on Education, CS Migos admitted to a shortfall in funding, acknowledging that only Ksh. 28.8 billion of the required Ksh. 36.3 billion was released to secondary schools in Term 1 of 2025.
“We are under fiscal pressure,” he explained, citing budget deficits and delayed exchequer releases. “We disbursed 50% in January and March, but the printed estimates still fell short.”
Hon. Robert Mbui, who initiated the session, noted that schools had only received half of the expected Ksh. 28 billion in Term 1, worsening a cumulative shortfall of Ksh. 64 billion over five years.
MPs raised concerns about planning inefficiencies and lack of clarity on pending bills. “How free is education when schools run on half budgets?” asked Hon. Rebecca Tonkei.
Committee Chair Julius Melly emphasized the need for sustainable solutions amid rising student populations.
Migos also revealed a shift from NEMIS to KEMIS to address data inaccuracies and promised to enhance term-based disbursement (50% in Term 1, 30% in Term 2, and 20% in Term 3). He appealed to MPs to support the ministry’s budget push in the upcoming fiscal year.
