NAIROBI, Kenya – Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has announced plans to hold talks with Education CS Julius Ogamba to address the ongoing school capitation crisis, saying the government must urgently find a lasting solution to funding gaps in the education sector.
Speaking in Nairobi on Monday during the Public Private Partnership Symposium, Mbadi said the current budgetary allocation falls short of meeting minimum requirements under government policy.
“We need to provide more resources to meet the minimum requirement according to our policy,” Mbadi said, adding that the discussions will also focus on the government’s recent decision to lower tuition fees for universities and colleges.
The reduced fees—set to take effect from September 1—come after public outcry from students, parents, and education stakeholders over the rising cost of academic programmes in public institutions.
Mbadi acknowledged that the State is struggling to fully fund free education, noting that the current financial capacity cannot meet the full per-student cost.
He accused some leaders of ignoring this fiscal reality for political expediency.
In July, Mbadi drew criticism when he told MPs that free education is a heavy financial burden for the State.
He later clarified that his remarks were taken out of context, insisting that his intention was to highlight the need for sustainable funding strategies.
The planned meeting between Treasury and the Ministry of Education comes amid heightened pressure on the government to release pending capitation funds to schools, with education officials warning of stalled operations if the crisis persists.
