Lilian Nyiva
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has dismissed claims that the government is defunding education, stating that the sector remains the largest beneficiary of public spending with an allocation of KSh 784 billion in the 2026/2027 financial year.
Speaking amid growing concerns over funding gaps in schools and higher education institutions, Mbadi argued that the government's commitment to education remains strong despite fiscal constraints facing the country.
“The narrative suggesting that we are defunding education is misplaced. We have allocated KSh 784 billion to the sector,” Mbadi said.
The allocation comes as stakeholders in the education sector continue to raise concerns about shortages in capitation funds, infrastructure financing, and support for learning institutions. The Ministry of Education had earlier indicated that it required additional funding to fully meet its budgetary needs for the upcoming financial year.
Education Remains Top Funded Sector
According to government budget estimates, education continues to receive the largest share of national expenditure, covering basic education, junior and senior secondary schools, teacher salaries, technical and vocational training institutions, universities, and student financing programmes.
Mbadi maintained that the allocation demonstrates the government's commitment to ensuring access to quality education while balancing competing demands from other sectors such as health, infrastructure, and security.
Concerns Over Funding Gaps
Despite the increased allocation, education stakeholders have expressed concerns about funding shortfalls affecting school operations and development projects. Education officials recently noted that the sector continues to face significant financial pressures due to rising enrolment, expansion of education programmes, and increasing operational costs.
School administrators and education unions have also called for timely disbursement of capitation funds to ensure smooth learning activities across the country.
Government Defends Fiscal Priorities
Mbadi has repeatedly emphasized that the government is operating within a constrained fiscal environment and must balance available resources across multiple sectors. He has argued that while demands for additional education funding are legitimate, budget allocations must reflect the country's overall economic realities and revenue performance.
The Treasury is expected to provide further details on how the KSh 784 billion allocation will be distributed across various education programmes and institutions during the implementation of the 2026/2027 budget.
