The Ministry of Education (MoE) has requested Parliament to approve an additional KSh30 billion in the 2026/27 financial year to sustain ongoing reforms and meet rising recurrent costs across the sector.
In the Budget Policy Statement (BPS) 2026, MoE has proposed a resource ceiling of KSh767.3 billion, representing a 9 per cent increase from the current KSh703 billion allocation. Of this, KSh737 billion is earmarked for recurrent expenditure, while KSh30 billion will go to development programmes.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) remains the largest beneficiary, with a proposed allocation of KSh422.9 billion, translating to 55.1 per cent of the sector’s total budget. This reflects a KSh36 billion increase, largely directed towards teacher resource management.
Basic Education is projected to receive KSh134.8 billion, to support capitation for learners in primary, junior, and senior schools under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system. However, challenges persist, including textbook shortages, senior school placement concerns, and pending bills owed to publishers.
The Higher Education department is seeking KSh160.1 billion, a KSh16.4 billion rise, as universities continue to grapple with implementation hurdles under the new student-centred funding model.
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The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) subsector will see its allocation rise to KSh47 billion, an increase of KSh4 billion.
The BPS also highlights structural gaps that remain unresolved, including nearly one million out-of-school children, inequitable infrastructure funding, and delays in operationalising the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS) to safeguard learner data.
The proposals now await parliamentary approval as the 2026/27 budget-making process enters its final stages.
By masaki Enock
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