By Hassan Wekesa - Editor
Kenya, 14 October 2026 - Officials from Kenya’s Ministry of Education and education sector leaders, led by Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Basic Education John Ololtuaa, on Wednesday presented the sector’s budget proposals for the coming financial year and the medium term.
They did so during the Public Sector Hearing on the FY 2027/28 Budget and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
As Chair of the Education Sector Working Group, PS Ololtuaa was joined by a representative of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Officer, PS for Higher Education Dr Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, her counterpart in Technical and Vocational Education and Training Dr Esther Muoria, and PS for Science, Research and Innovation Prof Shaukat Abdulrazak.
The hearings, organised by the National Treasury under Article 201(a) of the Constitution, give Sector Working Groups an opportunity to present their budget proposals and receive feedback from stakeholders and members of the public. This helps to support openness, accountability and public participation in public finance.
“The education sector budget-making process is an open one, geared towards ensuring that resources are rationalised to optimise positive learning outcomes for the Kenyan child,” PS Ololtuaa said.
He was accompanied by heads of directorates and departments of the State Department for Basic Education.
Kenya’s education sector still faces a myriad of challenges, even as pre-primary learning centres and comprehensive schools near the end of the third term.
This week, most schools will close for the long holidays ahead of the end-of-year festivities and the celebrations to welcome 2027.
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Union officials, led by UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga, described the KSh 12 billion counteroffer as "awfully inadequate” and insisted that they do not negotiate global lump-sum figures. They are demanding full implementation of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and full payment of outstanding arrears, including around KSh 7.9 billion in prior dues.
The stalemate comes as Kenyan media and other stakeholders have questioned the billions spent on campaigns as politicians seek elective positions in the 2027 General Election.