MPs urge Education Ministry to recall students sent home over delayed capitation payments
MPs said the continued absence of candidates from school threatens their readiness for upcoming national exams.
Members of Parliament have urged the Ministry of Education to direct school principals to recall students who have been sent home over delayed capitation payments, saying the continued absence of candidates from school threatens their readiness for upcoming national exams.
In a session on Wednesday, the legislators said the administrative audits should not come at the expense of students’ academic performance and exam preparedness.
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Nyeri County MP Rahab Mukami raised concerns over the timing of the verification, noting that sending Form Four students home was affecting their exam preparation.
“Why have Form Four students been sent home while we know very well that they should be preparing for their exams?” she posed, urging the Cabinet Secretary to intervene and ensure students resume classes to complete their preparation and sit for their final exams without disruption.
Education CS Julius Ogamba informed the National Assembly that delays in capitation fund releases were caused by an ongoing audit that uncovered serious irregularities, including payments made to non-existent schools.
Ogamba said an Auditor General’s report had revealed that some schools receiving capitation funds did not exist.
“Mr Speaker, the Office of the Auditor General recently reported that some of the schools that received capitation from the Ministry of Education were non-existent. Following this report, the Ministry decided to undertake a comprehensive verification exercise to determine the actual number of schools and learners in the country,” he said.
He explained that the verification aims to enhance transparency and accountability, ensuring that only verified schools benefit from public funds.
As of October 7, 2025, 752 primary, junior, senior and special needs institutions serving 9,430,139 learners had been verified and received capitation.
Secondary schools have received Sh10 billion of the Sh10.3 billion allocation, representing 96 per cent. Junior schools have received Sh4.1 billion of the Sh5.7 billion set aside, equivalent to 73 per cent, while primary schools have been allocated Sh821 million of the Sh1.7 billion budgeted, covering 48 per cent of the total.
The CS assured MPs that the verification exercise was nearing completion and that a comprehensive report would be ready within a week.
“By Wednesday next week, the exercise will be done, and once the report of the analysis is released, we will then determine which and where the ghost schools are located. Retrospective action will then be taken by the investigative agencies,” he added.
MP Mukami and other legislators stressed that while audits are necessary, they should not compromise students’ learning, calling on the Ministry to immediately recall learners so exam preparations can continue without disruption.
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