Opposition leader Raila Odinga accused the government of shortchanging public schools of billions of shillings in funding and misleading the public about education spending ahead of classes resuming Monday.
Odinga said in a statement on Tuesday that President William Ruto’s administration has failed to provide the KES 22,244 per student stipulated by law for the free secondary education program. He said the government owes about KES 69.8 billion for the upcoming term.
“The truth is that at the end of the Third Term of the 2022/2023 Financial Year alone, government subsidy for Free Day Secondary Education fell way below requirement,” Odinga said. “Failure to release full capitation to all schools is effecting learning differently across the country.”
He said schools in poorer areas are unable to make up for the shortfall like those in wealthier regions. Odinga warned this would lead to disparities in education levels between different parts of the country.
“Denial of full capitation is therefore eroding fair and equitable access to education which in the fullness of time will result in disparity among regions,” he said.
Many parents are facing the prospect of increased school fees up to KES 90,000 per term at public secondary schools, Odinga said. This is far beyond the means of most families where nearly 36% of the population lives on less than $1.90 a day.
In the meantime, head teachers are scrambling to cover basic needs at their schools as classes resume after the holidays, Odinga said.
He accused Ruto’s administration of prioritizing spending on projects such as affordable housing while neglecting education.
“How does a government put money on so-called affordable housing but (refuse) to finance the education of our children?” Odinga said. “Only 100% funding of public schools will guarantee every child and region every opportunity to succeed.”
Odinga lost to Ruto in an August election that was marked by last-minute drama after the electoral commission split on the results. The dissenting members were later replaced.
Odinga urged parents, teachers, civil society groups and lawmakers to pressure the government for the release of the funds. He said citizens must “force the government to deliver money to schools” and resist the “deliberate continuation of a policy of suppressing regions.”
The opposition leader instructed members of parliament and county assemblies from his coalition to “embark on active steps to force the government to release public education funding.”
