- President William Ruto says Kenya does not have the financial capacity to fully fund free education despite the increased budget allocation
- The President spoke in Nakuru during the launch of the second phase of the NYOTA business financing program
- He recalled how the old policy came close to collapsing universities when education was fully funded by the government
President William Ruto he has explained why the country cannot provide fully free education to all students.
Source: Facebook
The head of state was speaking there Nakuru on Friday, January 9, when he was launching the provision of the second phase of NYOTA business start-up capital, a program aimed at empowering young entrepreneurs.
Ruto said that the current economic capacity of the country does not allow the government to bear the entire cost of education.
Why is free education impossible in Kenya?
He explained that although his administration is committed to expanding access to education and reducing the burden on parents, the truth is that the national budget cannot maintain a system of free education at all levels.
Education already accounts for the largest share of government expenditure, with the allocation increasing from approximately KSh 702.7 billion in the 2025/2026 financial year.
However, the president stressed that even this large amount is not enough to cover every student across the country.
He explained that the current funding system ensures that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are not locked out of higher education, noting that students from poor families receive significant support through financial aid, scholarships and government funding.
The head of state reflected on the previous policy decision where the government tried to fully fund university education.
How does the Kenyan economy affect education funding?
He said the move almost crippled public universities after the government failed to meet huge financial demands.
“It can’t be free now, because we don’t have enough money. We have to be honest with ourselves. There was a time when we made it free, and our universities almost failed. We couldn’t afford it,” Ruto said.
He added that a stable economy is a prerequisite for free education, saying that funding social services without sufficient income can harm the institution in the long run.
Ruto said Kenya must take a gradual approach, strengthening the economy first before expanding government-funded education.
For now, he stressed, education funding must remain a joint responsibility involving the government, parents and other partners.
“It must be progressive. When we build the economy, there will come a time when we will be able to pay all the students. For now, it must be a partnership between the government, parents, and other stakeholders,” he said.
Ruto’s remarks come at a time when concerns are growing about the lateness and decline in student enrollment in public schools.
Source: Facebook
Why did Ndindi Nyoro criticize school funding?
Earlier TUKO.co.ke reported that Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro strongly criticized the government over what he called insufficient funding for schools in the 2026 academic year.
Nyoro claimed that schools only received KSh 109 per student for the current term, dismissing official reports on the provision of basic education as misleading.
He claimed that the amount was too little to cover operational costs and warned that many schools were struggling to function.
The MP further warned that he would mobilize parents if adequate primary education is not provided by the middle of the term, stressing that tax payers have the right to demand appropriate funding since free primary education is guaranteed under the constitution.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
