Lawmakers blamed for free education woes

Parliament is once again facing criticism from Kenyans for its role in the looming collapse of the country’s free education programme, due to its actions and failures.

Days after revelations by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi about the intended winding-up of the free education programme in primary and secondary schools, leaders from across the political divide and stakeholders in the education sector have trained their guns on the National Assembly over its failure to allocate sufficient resources for school capitation.

Mbadi, who was appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee last Thursday, said the government could no longer afford free education. He subsequently revealed a sharp cut in capitation for secondary schools — from Sh22,244 to Sh16,900 per learner — citing fiscal constraints.

But in a rejoinder, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki announced plans to bolster funding in the education sector, noting that the Kenya Kwanza administration would not roll back the gains achieved through free education.

“We will not roll back on the gains made from the initiative by Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta. Ignore the naysayers claiming that the Ruto administration is abolishing free primary education,” said Kindiki, who was speaking in Migori during a women’s economic empowerment engagement.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba also came out to contradict his Treasury counterpart.

“We have noted, with great concern, reports appearing in sections of the print and electronic media regarding the government’s position on the Free Day Secondary Education Programme.

“We wish to clarify as follows: On Thursday, 24th July 2025, the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, Hon. FCPA John Mbadi Ng’ong’o, and the undersigned appeared before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Education to discuss funding for the education sector.”

Senior government officials are now pointing fingers at MPs, accusing them of failing in their oversight role and of not doing enough to safeguard free education.

Being at the helm of budget allocations to the education sector, MPs are expected to provide adequate funding to schools to secure the future of millions of learners — but critics argue that they have done the exact opposite.

They have also come under fire for introducing multiple subsidy programmes despite knowing that the education sector is cash-strapped and may not be able to support such initiatives.

Their delay in consolidating all education-related funds and bursaries to support free education has also been cited among their missteps.

Parliament has already initiated a landmark process to consolidate all existing education bursaries and funding streams — through a motion in the National Assembly — in a bid to pave the way for free and compulsory basic education in Kenya.

Former Nairobi Education CEC Janet Muthoni questioned the National Assembly’s budget implementation, oversight efforts, and its independence from the executive in carrying out its constitutional mandate.

Failed mandate

“Parliament has failed the country by not demanding accountability for the mismanagement in the education sector. Another issue plaguing the sector is the excuse being given by the State that the free education programme is not sustainable. Are the salaries for Members of Parliament not sustainable? Is President Ruto using seven choppers for one function sustainable? Yet these things are funded. What criteria have we used to decide that the free education programme is not sustainable?” posed Muthoni.

She reiterated that while the right to education is a constitutional entitlement for every child, MPs had not taken a firm stand in defending it — hence the challenges facing the sector.

“Parliament is responsible for setting the budget, and they had already budgeted for these capitation funds. How can the executive then come and alter it? What happened to the separation of powers?” Muthoni further questioned.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir urged MPs to better execute their mandate and ensure that the education programme is not terminated.

“I am waiting for the next ODM Central Management Committee meeting to address our MPs, because we must take a stand as a party. Let us call things as they are. They should be told that when they go to Parliament, they must uphold the party’s ideals, which include defending the rights of the people,” said the Governor.

Nassir, who highlighted that the fate of 16 million children was now in limbo, called on the government to split the billions collected through the Housing Levy to fund free education.

“From June last year to May this year, collections from the Housing Levy amounted to Sh88 billion. Projections indicate that Sh99 billion will be collected from the levy between July this year and June next year. If the government cannot identify where to find funds for free education, split the Housing Levy and establish an Education Levy,” he added.

On the other hand, Baringo Woman Representative Florence Jematiah supported the scrapping of free education, arguing that it had contributed to disengaged parenting.

“When you give out free education to students, do you get quality? Free education is not good,” she said.