NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has directed the Ministry of Education to immediately release capitation funds to all public schools ahead of the second term reopening, in a move aimed at ensuring smooth operations.
Speaking during the National Drama Festival State Concert at State House in Nairobi on Friday, the President instructed Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba to ensure that the full allocation, amounting to Ksh23 billion, is disbursed before schools resume.
The directive comes amid longstanding concerns over delayed disbursement of capitation funds, which has in the past strained school operations and forced administrators to rely on alternative means to sustain learning.
“As we did last year, we made sure that money meant for capitation arrives before the opening of the schools. The Minister for Education is here, and he is to ensure that the Ksh23 billion meant for capitation arrives on time before opening,” Ruto announced.
“We will be releasing the funds going forward in advance to make sure that our teachers have all the necessary resources before schools open,” he added.
Despite similar assurances in the past, school heads have frequently reported delays in the release of funds, affecting procurement of essential learning materials and day-to-day operations.
In January, Ndindi Nyoro publicly criticised the delays and threatened nationwide protests, highlighting the pressure faced by institutions due to funding gaps.
Students are expected to resume the second term on April 27, 2026, for a 14-week session that will run until July 31.
A mid-term break is scheduled between June 24 and June 28, followed by a three-week holiday from August 3 to August 21.
The third term will begin on August 24 and end on October 23, after which national examinations under the competency-based curriculum will commence.
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) is set to run from October 26 to October 29, alongside the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), which begin on the same date.
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The Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) will start on November 2, while the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) will run from November 2 to November 20.
Capitation funding remains a central pillar of Kenya’s free basic education programme, covering tuition and operational costs in public schools.
Education stakeholders have repeatedly called for predictable and timely disbursements, noting that delays disrupt planning and undermine the quality of learning.
Analysts say the government’s commitment to early release of funds could improve stability in the education sector if consistently implemented.
