Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu has apologized to the public for the delay in disbursement of capitation funds for schools.
“We are sorry for the delay but by the end of the week the money will have reached all schools countrywide,” he said.
While answering questions during a summon at the National Assembly on Wednesday June 7, 2023, Machogu said he was in constant correspondence with the National Treasury who are to release the funds today, Thursday.
“And I wish to report to the honourable members and the country as a whole that indeed he has confirmed that by tomorrow, the funds will be in the Ministry accounts and thereafter, we will be able to disburse the same to all schools countrywide,” he said.
This is the second time Machogu has promised principals regarding disbursement of funds after he did the same last week, assuring that the funds would reach schools by June 2.
His earlier announcement caused anxiety among school heads as suppliers and debtors tightened the noose against them resulting to some principals threatening to close schools as a panacea to the pressure from creditors and possible unrest from students.
Teachers’ unions added pressure on the Ministry giving them an ultimatum between releasing the money and closure of schools.
Earlier this week, Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education (KUPPET) National Chairman Omboko Milemba gave the Ministry three days to release the funds or else schools will be forced to close.
Kisii County Education Board Chairman Prof. Henry Onderi said that the delay had caused a lot hiccups in schools because they were unable to pay for food, bills and learning materials.
He asked parents to try to pay the little they have spared to pay schools fees to enable students remain in school.
Onderi also urged principals to embrace payment in kind by accepting food or services from parents.
The Chairman called upon the government to revisit the policy of abolishing boarding schools in order to ease the burden on principals.
He blamed the government for giving a lot of promises and asked leaders and officers to cease politicizing the education sector.
By Enock Okong’o
Get more stories from our website: Education News
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
