KISUMU, Kenya — The government has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing co-curricular activities in schools across the country, promising timely capitation funding and continued investment in learning infrastructure.
The assurance was made during the opening of the 2026 National School Sports Championships at Mamboleo Stadium in Kisumu County, bringing together about 6,000 learners from across the country.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the government is working closely with the National Treasury to ensure capitation funds reach schools before the next academic term begins.
“We are confident that when schools open on April 27, money for capitation will be in our schools,” Bitok said, adding that the government is streamlining financial systems to eliminate delays experienced in previous disbursements.
He said the timely release of funds is critical to supporting co-curricular programmes, including sports, which play a central role in learner development under the Competency-Based Education framework.
Bitok also raised concern over age cheating in school competitions, warning that the practice undermines fairness and integrity in athletics and other disciplines.
“We are not going to entertain any teacher or stakeholder who encourages learners to lie about their age. Disciplinary action will be taken against those found culpable,” he warned, noting that teachers are responsible for maintaining accurate learner records.
The PS said national school games remain a key pillar in nurturing talent, adding that structured co-curricular activities are increasingly opening career pathways for learners.
“This is a very important day in our education calendar, and it aligns with the competence-based framework where sports is a key pathway,” he said.
On learning resources, Bitok disclosed that 99pc of Grade 10 textbooks have already been distributed to schools nationwide under the government’s one-textbook-per-learner-per-subject policy.
“Our policy is one textbook per learner per subject, and we are almost there despite challenges in enrollment variations,” he said, attributing remaining gaps to discrepancies between reported and actual student numbers in some institutions.
He further highlighted progress in education infrastructure, noting that more than 23,000 classrooms have been constructed over the past three years, creating over one million additional learner spaces. He said the projects are being implemented through partnerships involving county governments, the National Government Constituencies Development Fund, and parents.
Kisumu County Deputy Governor Mathews Owili welcomed the hosting of the national championships, saying sports is increasingly being recognized as a viable career path for young people.
Owili also commended ongoing upgrades to sporting facilities, including the modernization of Moi Stadium in Kisumu, expressing optimism that the championships will help identify and nurture future sporting talent while strengthening co-curricular development in schools.
