Kenya’s public schools on the brink amid illegal fees, funding shortfalls
The Elimu Bora Working Group called for President William Ruto to release the report and recommendations of the presidential working party on education reform to address the issues.
A lobby group has called for immediate government action to address the rising education crisis, citing evidence of rampant corruption, school fee exploitation and exclusion of children with disabilities from public schools.
According to the Elimu Bora Working Group (EBWG), 90 per cent of public schools are charging illegal fees, 40 per cent of primary pupils remain at home due to unpaid levies, and nearly half of junior secondary students risk permanent dropout.
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Speaking on Thursday during a media briefing, EBWG called for President William Ruto to release the report and recommendations of the presidential working party on education reform to address the issues.
They urged the Education Cabinet Secretary to issue binding circulars with enforcement mechanisms against errant school heads, conduct strict auditing of school accounts and create safe channels for parents to report extortion.
“We demand that President Ruto provide a comprehensive status report on the presidential working party on education and establish the actual cost of transitioning to CBE with adequate preparations and infrastructure development before any further transition,” EBWG member Cornelius Oduor said.
The group also called for annual safety audits, proper infrastructure investment and increased capitation grants to reflect the true cost of quality education.
The lobby slammed the government’s move to reduce university fees by up to 40 per cent, saying it was done without consulting stakeholders or allowing public participation.
Maxwell Magawe criticised the new university funding model, saying the new education model for tertiary education has emerged as a “weapon designed to destroy public university education in Kenya.”
“The four means-testing instruments have placed more students in batch four, creating unsustainable loan burdens and forcing students to abandon their dreams or to transfer to expensive private universities,” he said.
EBWG members also highlighted widespread illegal school fees as a major driver of corruption, calling for a lifestyle audit of principals to expose misuse of funds that undermines free and compulsory basic education.
EBWG further pointed to incidents such as the Endarasha Hillside Academy fire that killed 21 children early this year, unsafe transport, sexual harassment and drug exposure, arguing that schools prioritise profit over protection.
The group noted that underfunding of Sh1,420 per primary pupil annually forces schools to exploit parents, causing financial distress.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga, who attended the press briefing, stressed the importance of inclusive education.
“Kenya’s education system is on the brink. CBC is struggling without adequate resources, while universities face uncertainty under the new funding model. Primary schools are owed Sh64 billion in capitation, and education’s share of the national budget has dropped from 30 per cent under Kibaki to just 17 per cent today. Education is not a privilege, it is a constitutional right and the engine of equality and development,” he said.
“We must urgently restore predictable funding, protect free access, and ensure no child is denied a future because of poverty or poor policy.”
EBWG warned that the exclusion of children with disabilities continues, with schools lacking ramps, assistive technology and tailored learning support. The group urged deliberate policies to ensure inclusive education and equal access for all learners.
The lobby outlined its demands for urgent reforms, including strict enforcement against illegal levies, annual safety audits, increased capitation, inclusive learning policies and a constitutional model for university financing.
EBWG cautioned that failure to act could push Kenya’s education system past the point of recovery.
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