On August 6, 2025, Members of the National Assembly expressed dissatisfaction with the role of the Ministry of Education in facilitating co-curricular activities at National levels.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba’s explanation that the Ministry of Education was already covering the costs for learners involved in this year’s music festivals and the recently concluded secondary school ball games was dismissed.
This year’s national music festivals began on August 4 and are scheduled to run until August 16.
Ogamba, who did not appear in person before the House, defended the Ministry’s role in a statement presented by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, who chairs the Education Committee. He said that the government supports co-curricular activities through annual capitation grants sent to schools.
He explained that each primary school learner receives Sh76 yearly to cater for sports and performing arts. For those in the free day secondary school programme, Sh1, 500 is allocated per learner for co-curricular activities. From these amounts, the Ministry retains Sh40 from primary pupils and Sh500 from secondary students to be pooled at different levels to support participation in such activities.
“These funds are intended to support co-curricular activities at the sub-county, county, regional and national levels,” read the statement by Melly.
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Ogamba said sub-county education offices receive Sh155, 000 for Term Two activities, while counties receive Sh505, 000. Regional offices are allocated Sh1.2 million. However, he noted that these allocations are “inadequate”.
He further stated that the Ministry partly covers expenses such as meals, accommodation, transport, water, medical support and championship organization, all depending on budget availability.
The CS was responding to concerns raised by Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba, who had queried why some learners, including those from Meru and participants in the ball games in Kakamega, were reportedly stranded due to lack of facilitation.
Milemba also raised allegations that some education officials were compelling school heads to surrender capitation funds once they are received.
Lawmakers urged the Ministry to increase funding for co-curricular activities and ensure that students are adequately supported when representing their schools in national events. They questioned the transparency and effectiveness of disbursing capitation and challenged the Ministry to conduct audits at regional and school levels to account for every cent.
By Benedict Aoya
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