Teachers’ unions have sharply criticised the government following Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi’s announcement that the state can no longer fully fund free education in public schools.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) say the move will have far-reaching consequences on the country’s education system, warning that public schools could be plunged into crisis if government funding is not restored.
Speaking in Webuye on Friday, July 26, 2025, KNUT Second National Vice Chairperson Aggrey Namisi and KUPPET Bungoma Branch Secretary Augustine Luketelo stated that the government’s position threatens access to basic education for thousands of learners, particularly those from low-income families.
“The government’s decision is a betrayal of its obligation to provide free and quality education,” said Namisi. “This reversal risks undoing decades of progress in education access and equity,” he said.
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Luketerlo noted that the reduction in capitation funds has already begun straining operations in many public schools, adding that the situation will only worsen if no intervention is made.
The unions are now calling on the government to urgently reconsider the decision and prioritise education in the national budget. They argue that the move contradicts the country’s commitment to universal education and could widen the inequality gap.
Despite the uproar, KNUT has encouraged teachers to support the recently signed four-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), which includes a 29 percent salary increment.
Namisi described the increment as timely, saying it will offer financial relief to teachers facing high living costs.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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