State to release Sh48.8 billion for school capitation next week - Mbadi

The government is set to release Sh48.8 billion for school capitation next week, ensuring the funds reach school accounts to support the education sector.

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, John Mbadi, made the announcement addressing concerns over the delay in disbursing the funds to schools.

According to Mbadi, the disbursement had been delayed due to the country's ongoing debt challenges.

Mbadi reassured school heads that the funds would be disbursed in two instalments, with half of the total amount of Sh48.8 billion arriving next week. The remainder will be paid out as the academic year progresses.

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• State to release Sh48.8 billion for school capitation next week - Mbadi
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"Therefore, schools, please, don't worry. I am giving you my word that Sh48.8 billion for capitation will be in your school accounts because we are releasing it next week," Mbadi told journalists in Garsen Constituency.

Anxiety

The delay in capitation disbursements has caused anxiety among school administrators, some of whom have resorted to sending students home for fees to keep their operations running.

This frustration led the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) to issue a seven-day ultimatum to the government on Thursday, demanding the release of the funds.

"The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education on Thursday gave the government seven days to disburse the funds," said Mbadi, adding that Kenya had recently paid Sh70 billion in loans, prioritizing debt repayment before allocating funds to schools.

Mbadi assured the education sector that the government is committed to the timely release of funds moving forward.

He emphasized that the payment delay was due to the government's need to manage its debt obligations.

"We have been struggling from the beginning of the year to pay loans, the external loans, which have been due. Sh70 billion, we had no choice," he explained.

"From next week, we will release money to schools, so that our children can go to school," the CS added.

The announcement came shortly after KUPPET Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima had warned that failure to release the funds would force the union to advise school heads to close schools and send learners home.

While addressing other pressing issues, Mbadi also confirmed that Sh30 billion owed to counties will be disbursed by the end of January. He assured that the Treasury's next priority after the school capitation funds would be to pay county governments, noting the critical importance of devolution.

"We will then release funds to the counties to finance the county governments," Mbadi said, reiterating the government's commitment to supporting local governance through timely financial support.

Mbadi highlighted that the previous administration's heavy borrowing had strained the country's finances, but assured the public that the current government is taking necessary measures to stabilize the economy and ensure sustainable growth.