NAIROBI, Kenya – At least 3,000 public schools have received capitation funds following the completion of an enrolment verification exercise, the Ministry of Education has announced.
More than 30,000 schools have so far submitted updated enrolment data, with those yet to comply given until September 12, 2025, to meet the new deadline.
According to the ministry, schools that have successfully verified their enrolment figures have already been paid, while the remaining institutions will receive their allocations next week.
Speaking during a visit to Masii Boys High School in Machakos County, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok lauded the institution for being the first in the county to submit its enrolment data, enabling it to receive full funding without delay.
PS Bitok urged head teachers to ensure accurate and timely submissions, warning that only verified figures would be used to guide disbursements.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has defended the delays in releasing third-term capitation, saying they stemmed from a special audit ordered by the Auditor General.
“In the last four years, some disbursements may have been made to schools that do not exist. Before releasing the money, we had to conduct a verification exercise to confirm the existence of schools and the actual number of learners,” Ogamba said in a recent interview with KTN.
The audit revealed that 33 ghost schools received billions of shillings in capitation funds over the past four years.
Ogamba warned that fraudulent cases would be handed over to investigative agencies.
“We have found schools claiming 300 learners on paper, but the numbers don’t add up when cross-checked. Where ghost schools are confirmed, individuals behind the fraud will be held accountable,” he said.
The ministry said the verification process involved cross-checking school enrolment data against records held by sub-county directors of education.
The confirmation of payments offers some relief to schools struggling with delayed funding as the third term progresses.
