Secondary schools in Trans Nzoia County reopened for the 2026 second term at a slow pace as principals called for KESSHA’s intervention over what they described as low capitation that will affect the operations of learning institutions countrywide.
The learning institutions are looming towards a crisis as principals try to come to terms with sealing the deficit between the capitation funds and school fees paid by parents to actualise the CBE system.
While most schools in the county opened today, Tuesday, April 28, with a few others expected on Wednesday, April 29, principals of over 200 boarding and day senior schools were wondering how to operate the institutions with the low government capitation received last Friday, as they wait for parents to pay school fees to resume full operations.
Principals who spoke in Kitale, requesting to remain unnamed, asked the Trans Nzoia KESSHA leadership under the chairmanship of Bernard Masinde to expedite a response from the Ministry of Education (MoE) to raise the cap on capitation to protect them from blame for sending students home to collect fees from parents and guardians.
The school heads applauded the Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Dr Julius Bitok, for spearheading the increase of free education funds and appealed to all education stakeholders, including KUPPET and KNUT, to back the PS in his drive towards universal education support.
While welcoming the Ministry’s prompt release of funds to school accounts for the first time on record, the headteachers, however, expressed concern about how they were expected to facilitate the smooth running of schools without support from parents, who are the major stakeholders.
The principals noted that after the release of capitation funds, parents were expected to play their role by ensuring their children were not compelled to leave school in search of fees.
They wondered how the KSh 4,900 allocation between operations and facilities could sustain a student for the whole term if not supported and supplemented by fees from parents, adding that this is below the 30% annual capitation from the government.
Each student is supposed to benefit from KSh 24,000 every year under the new CBE system, which aims to promote education for all eligible Kenyan students.
The Trans Nzoia principals turned their anger on the branch KESSHA leadership, accusing it of staying aloof as they faced backlash for calling for increased capitation and sending students away from school to demand fees.
“Regrettably, we will still send away students who have not paid fees, but we are apprehensive about who will support us in this course. Is KESSHA or even KUPPET prepared to stand with the principals in these struggles to safeguard the education of the Kenyan child?” asked one principal.
READ ALSO: Nandi parents decry rising cost of CBE as schools reopen for Term Two
The Trans Nzoia KESSHA boss, Masinde, did not respond to our text message regarding the matter, as principals continued to accuse the organisation of allegedly not defending their welfare and interests.
By Abisai Amugune
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