President William Ruto has directed the Ministry of Education to work with school heads and propose a fresh review of school capitation, raising the possibility of increased government funding for learners amid rising operational costs.
The President wants a report on his desk by January 2027 to guide his decision on whether to increase the funds allocated to schools.
Speaking on Thursday during the Kenya Comprehensive School Heads Association (KESSHA) Annual General Meeting and Conference at Sheikh Zayed Children Welfare Centre in Nyali, Mombasa, Ruto said the review should consider the financial challenges facing schools.
“I expect a report on my desk by January next year so that I can make a decision on which way to go,” he stated.
Ruto Wants School Capitation Increased Beyond KSh2,340
The proposed review comes after the government increased primary school capitation from KSh1,400 to KSh2,340 per learner.
However, Ruto said further adjustments were necessary to improve teaching and learning conditions in schools.
He instructed the Ministry of Education to consult school heads through their association and present recommendations on the appropriate funding levels.
The President also highlighted changes to the country’s basic education structure, saying the government was bringing primary and junior schools together under one institution known as Comprehensive Schools.
He directed the Ministry of Education to work with KESSHA to establish a legal framework for the new arrangement.
According to Ruto, the Basic Education Act will be amended to provide for the governance, staffing and financing of Comprehensive Schools.
Government Reveals KSh85.9 Billion Released to Schools
Ruto defended the government’s approach to school funding, saying capitation funds had been released before the beginning of school terms to help administrators plan their activities.
He disclosed that the government had released KSh44 billion in January, KSh23.4 billion in April and KSh18.5 billion in August.
The three disbursements amounted to KSh85.9 billion.
The President promised that the government would maintain the practice of releasing funds before schools reopened.
“Going forward, capitation funds will be released before schools open. A school head should spend the first week of term focusing on learning and teaching, not chasing funds,” he added.
Ruto Announces 20,000 More Teachers and 50,000 Promotions
The President also outlined his administration’s plans to address teacher shortages and improve the welfare of education professionals.
He recalled that Kenya had a shortage of 116,000 teachers in 2022, with the government previously recruiting approximately 5,000 teachers annually.
However, he said his administration had hired 100,000 teachers over the past three years and planned to recruit another 20,000 by December 2026.
Ruto described the recruitment exercise as the largest teacher expansion in Kenya’s history.
He further announced that 50,000 teachers would be promoted during the 2026/2027 financial year.
The government will also provide an additional KSh4 billion to support teachers’ promotions and career progression.
Teachers to Get 20% of Affordable Housing Units
Ruto said teachers were also benefiting from the government’s Affordable Housing Programme, with 20 per cent of the housing units reserved for them.
On healthcare, he disclosed that approximately 1.3 million teachers and their dependants had been covered under the teachers’ medical scheme.
The figure comprises 426,000 teachers and 887,000 dependants.
He added that access to healthcare had expanded from 900 facilities under the former National Health Insurance Fund to more than 4,000 health facilities countrywide.
Ruto Exposes Ghost Learners and Fake Schools in Education System
The President also raised concerns about irregularities in school records, saying the digitisation of the education sector would help improve transparency and accountability.
He claimed that more than 800,000 non-existent pupils had been identified in primary school registers, alongside nearly 200 fake schools.
Ruto said the government was digitising learner records to ensure education funding reached genuine learners and institutions.
“Money must reach classrooms with children, not registers with ghost learners,” he said.
He also announced a national target requiring every Kenyan child to acquire basic reading, writing and numeracy skills by the end of Grade Three.
The government intends to measure progress annually and publish results by county and individual school.
Ruto directed the Ministry of Education to work with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), county governments and school heads to develop an assessment and reporting system.
Ruto Challenges Schools to Introduce Practical Learning
The President challenged school administrators to introduce teaching methods that allow learners to acquire practical skills alongside academic knowledge.
He urged schools to turn classrooms into practical learning environments where pupils could participate in activities such as farming, building, measuring, repairing and presenting projects.
He cited school gardens as opportunities to teach agribusiness and broken desks as practical lessons in carpentry.
Ruto said every learner should have an opportunity to create something, repair something or demonstrate leadership before completing school.
Ruto Says Era of Teachers’ Strikes Is Over
The Head of State also addressed industrial relations in the education sector, arguing that teachers should embrace dialogue and cooperation with the government.
He said his administration had committed to addressing teachers’ concerns while expecting educators to play their part in improving the education system.
“I promised that we are going to do our part, and we are going to meet halfway. When you make one step, we make one,” he stated.
He added that quality education would help Kenya develop its human capital and take advantage of international labour mobility opportunities.
Ruto Explains Housing Levy and PAYE Deductions to Teachers
Ruto also defended the government’s tax and housing levy arrangements, dismissing claims that teachers were losing a significant portion of their salaries through government deductions.
He said the PAYE exemption threshold had been increased from KSh24,000 to KSh32,000.
According to the President, the additional KSh8,000 exemption translates into KSh2,000 in tax savings, compared with a KSh750 housing levy deduction.
He argued that teachers therefore gained a net benefit of KSh1,250.
“The net effect is that you will get Ksh.1,250 more into your salary,” he said.
Ogamba, Oyuu and Governors Praise Education Reforms
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba commended Ruto for supporting reforms in the sector.
He said government investment in education had increased to nearly 30 per cent of the national budget annually over the past four years.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir also praised the administration’s efforts to promote equality, particularly through teacher recruitment aimed at addressing staffing shortages in schools.
Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho shared his personal experience with Kenya’s education system, saying financial difficulties had affected his academic performance.
Joho recalled that he received a D grade because his parents could not afford his school fees, forcing him to miss classes for extended periods.
He suggested that he might have performed better under the current education reforms.
“If you had been the President, I would not have a D,” he told Ruto.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said the government was implementing changes across several sectors, including agriculture, the blue economy and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General Collins Oyuu praised Ruto for recruiting large numbers of teachers, promoting educators and ensuring timely disbursement of school capitation.
“A Government that invests in teachers is investing in productivity. A Government that protects teachers is protecting the education system,” Oyuu said.
KESSHA National Chair Fuad Ali also thanked the President for the education reforms.
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