Kenyans have expressed concern over the increased allocation of free education and the timely release of the funds in efforts to sustain learners in schools.
Mathioya MP Edwin Mugo said he was aware of the challenges the parents were going through, thus he would move a motion in parliament to review the school capitation in efforts to support the free education programme.
Mugo said there is a need for the review to support achieving free education for learners through the allocation of more resources, and to end the regular practice of sending them home for fee balance.
Speaking at Kiambuthi Secondary School in his constituency, when he disbursed a Sh64.5 million bursary kitty to learners in secondary schools and colleges, he said the capitation review was necessary, as the cost of living had increased since 2018, thus necessitating additional resources to sustain schools.
A student in secondary school is allocated Sh22,000 remitted in phases.
“ Cost of living has been a major impediment, the learning institution thus a need for the government to consider allocating more to support sustaining students in school,” said Dr Mugo.
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He blamed the delay on the misalignment between the national budget and revenue collected by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
“Some of the school heads are facing being auctioned due to debts incurred following the delayed disbursement of capitation,” he explained.
In the disbursement, each of the 3,000 day school learners was allocated Sh5,000, each of the 2,400 boarders was allocated Sh8,000, and 890 learners in special schools were each allocated Sh10,000. The model students got a full bursary from the NG-CDF. An additional Sh15 million was earmarked to renovate six primary schools, with each receiving an allocation of Sh2.2 million.
“ The amount will be wired electronically to the schools, and the parents receiving notifications from the schools,” said Mugo
On the national budget, he said it was a pity that the revenue collected by the KRA was less than the expenditure, as the income was directed to pending bills, among other needs.
The Education Ministry is allocated Sh800 billion.
Jane Wanjau, a parent, recounts how schools have been sending learners away to settle fee balances after the government failed to remit capitation on time.
“Our MP should lobby in parliament to help in allocating more resources in the education sector for the interest of our children,” said Ms Wanjau, a resident of Umbui village.
The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association Chairman, Willy Kuri, asserts that the school seeks clearance of the proposed increase to end the crisis, which is likely to compromise education.
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