By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, 6 January 2026 - Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro has issued a stark warning to the government over delayed and inadequate school capitation, saying parents across the country could soon be mobilised to demand accountability if funds are not released in full.
Speaking on Tuesday, the former Budget and Appropriations Committee chairperson said the amounts disbursed so far for the 2026 academic year are insufficient to keep public schools running, contradicting official assurances that institutions are adequately funded.
“Some of these things we are not begging for as leaders. Sometimes we are just telling the government to do what they need to do,” Nyoro said, arguing that schools are being pushed to the brink by cash shortages.
He maintained that the funds released can only sustain schools for the current term, placing administrators under intense pressure to meet operational costs.
“You have not funded schools in the year 2026. You’ve only sent money that can only run our schools for this term,” he said.
Nyoro disclosed that leaders had already demanded clarity from the government through an official circular on capitation, warning that failure to do so would trigger action.
“Last week, we told the government clearly that they needed to release a circular in terms of capitation, or you are going to do some unspecified actions,” he said.
In the immediate term, the MP said his focus would be to expose what he described as a gap between government statements and realities in schools.
“This first phase, we are going to make it our obligation to make all the stakeholders aware that what the government is saying is actually not true. It is incorrect,” Nyoro said.
More from Kenya
He added that leaders would closely monitor the government’s conduct throughout the term, especially the timeliness of disbursements.
“We are going to observe within this term the behaviour, the demeanour, the body language of government especially in terms of sending money, not stories,” he said.
Nyoro warned that if full capitation is not released by mid-term, parents would be mobilised nationwide to press for their children’s constitutional right to free basic education.
“By the time we are going to mid-term, we expect the government to have sent the real money for this term, failure to which we are going to mobilise all the Kenyan parents to meet what is their right,” he said.
He insisted parents, already burdened by heavy taxation, should not be forced to subsidise education through unofficial fees.
“The Kenyan parents cannot continue to observe silently as the government continues to tear down and annihilate the right of learners in Kenya by not adequately funding free basic education,” Nyoro said.
The Ministry of Education has announced the release of KSh 44.2 billion for Term One, 2026, but school heads have repeatedly warned that delays and shortfalls disrupt learning, increase debt, and threaten access to education for millions of learners.
MP Ndindi Nyoro Warns School Funding Delays Could Fan Public Outrage
Nyoro Draws Red Line on School Funding
