Education Ministry faces Ksh.102 billion funding gap ahead of Budget Day

The Ministry of Education had requested Ksh.770 billion for the 2026/2027 financial year. However, the National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee has so far allocated Ksh.668.3 billion, leaving a deficit of Ksh.102 billion, which the ministry describes as worrying.

“We want all the monies that we have requested as a ministry to be availed on a priority basis,” said Bitok.

Under free primary education, the ministry had requested Ksh.15.6 billion, but only Ksh.7 billion has been allocated in the budget set for presentation next Thursday.

For the school feeding programme, which targets 2.8 million needy learners in ASAL and urban slum areas for 180 days, the ministry requested Ksh.6.7 billion. However, only Ksh.3 billion has been factored in, leaving a shortfall of Ksh.3.7 billion.

The ministry also sought Ksh.54.6 billion to fund junior school education in the next financial year, but only Ksh.30.9 billion has been allocated, with officials pushing for the Ksh.23.7 billion gap to be addressed before Budget Day.

“We have the highest budget in the Ministry of Education in the history of this country, and that budget is going to capitation and development of schools,” Bitok said.

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries in the education budget, with a substantial increase to Ksh.56.7 billion.

The Budget Committee has also allocated an additional Ksh.4.9 billion to facilitate the conversion of 20,000 intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms starting January next year.

Capitation for both primary and junior secondary schools also recorded an increase per learner. However, the ministry warns that the underfunding could result in over 1.5 million learners missing out on capitation support.

The National Assembly also deliberated on the budget estimates, which are expected to be presented before the House next week.