The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Sotik branch, has called on the government to increase the capitation funds allocated to schools, citing the growing number of students and rising operational costs.
Speaking in Sotik town, Branch Executive Secretary Mathias Langat said the current capitation is too low to support the government’s goal of achieving free and quality education for all.
Langat noted that each pupil in primary school currently receives KSh 1,400 per term, an amount he described as inadequate, especially given the increasing number of learners due to the free education policy.
“This amount is not enough to meet the demands of effective learning. Schools are struggling to offer basic services and materials under the current funding,” said Langat.
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The KNUT official further urged the government to expedite the recruitment of teachers, emphasising the need for a fair and transparent process. He warned that understaffing remains a serious challenge in many public schools across the country.
“Without enough teachers, the quality of education suffers. The government must prioritise hiring more teachers and ensure the process is transparent and inclusive,” he added.
Langat’s remarks come amid growing concern from education stakeholders about the sustainability of free education without sufficient government support.
In the 2025/2026 budget, Ksh 28.9 billion was allocated for Junior Secondary School capitation, with the education sector as a whole receiving a total allocation of Ksh 702.7 billion.
By Kimutai Langat
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