Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has warned of a severe funding crisis in the country’s education sector.
In his sentiments, he urged Parliament to act swiftly to prevent lasting damage to Kenya’s learning institutions.
Speaking in parliament on June 5, 2025, Ogamba said that significant budget cuts and delayed disbursements have left schools struggling to maintain basic operations, threatening the quality of education for millions of students.
“We are in a critical situation where the very foundation of our education system is being undermined by a lack of resources,” he stated.
He revealed that the ministry’s budget has faced deep cuts: the secondary school capitation fund has been slashed by Sh3 billion, junior school allocations by Sh2 billion, and primary school funding by Sh900 million.
According to Ogamba, these cuts have particularly hurt disadvantaged learners and risk widening inequalities in access to education.
He also highlighted the frustrations of teachers who are expected to deliver quality results while managing schools on limited funds.
“Teachers are working under enormous pressure, and this is not sustainable,” he added.
Adding to the chorus of concern, legal and education expert Kennedy Echesa criticised the government’s handling of capitation funds during an interview with Citizen TV Kenya.
Echesa said the government had failed to meet the promised disbursement ratios of 50% in term one, 30% in term two, and 20% in term three.
“This has led to a severe crisis in the education sector, compromising the quality of education and leaving schools in financial distress,” he said, underscoring the dire impact on school operations.
The CS’s concerns come at a time when Kenya is grappling with broader economic challenges; he, however, acknowledged that while the government faces many fiscal pressures, education must remain a top priority.
In his address, he called on parliamentarians to re-examine budget allocations in the upcoming 2025/26 fiscal year and ensure that schools receive the funding they urgently need.
“We cannot afford to compromise on the future of our children,” Ogamba said, warning that continued budget cuts could stall reforms, such as the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which aims to improve learning outcomes and skills development.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) echoed Ogamba’s concerns, warning that if the funding crisis is not addressed, schools could soon face serious disruptions.
As Parliament continues its budget discussions, the education sector’s funding shortfall has become a key issue. Many are watching to see whether lawmakers will heed Ogamba’s warning and act decisively to safeguard Kenya’s future generations.
