Ministry withholds most school capitation pending data clean-up

Nairobi, Kenya — 2025-09-05 EAT.

Only 3,000 schools out of 32,000 have received third-term capitation funding after their student enrolment data was verified. The Ministry of Education has extended the deadline to September 12 to allow compliance following audit concerns over ghost learners.

The Latest

• Just 3,000 public schools have received capitation funds post-verification. All others still await release until accurate data is submitted. 

• The Ministry extended the submission deadline to Friday, September 12, 2025 to accommodate schools yet to comply. 

Context in Brief

• The action follows sharp criticism from the Auditor General and Parliament regarding discrepancies in enrolment records and misuse of funds. 

• Verification requires submission of each learner’s UPI, school registration, and certified bank details through sub-county offices. 

Law, Policy, and Process

• Schools must align with Ministry templates to ensure funding eligibility.

• Failure to meet the deadline may result in penalties or funding denial—a response to the accountability drive.

Voices and Stakeholders

• PS Julius Bitok: “We had no option but to verify the data to ensure every shilling reaches the right learner.” He noted delays were due to previous inflated or falsified entries and praised Masii Boys High School for timely compliance. 

• Education CS Ogamba (via Citizen Digital): The audit revealed that ghost schools had received funds; verification is intended to correct this. 

• School Heads: Some institutions warn of potential student disruptions if funds remain delayed, especially with impending national exams. 

Evidence & Data Box

Risks and Implications

• Equity risk: Schools lagging in submission—especially primaries facing connectivity issues—may lose vital funding.

• Operational strain: Delayed funding threatens basic operations during peak exam preparation.

• Accountability: The drive signals stronger oversight in public education financing.

What We Don’t Know Yet

• Exact number of primary schools still unverified.

• Potential sanctions for non-compliant institutions.

• Timeframe for disbursing funds to remaining verified schools post-deadline.

Timeline

• August 27: Treasury funds received; verification exercise begins. 

• September 5: PS Bitok announces 3,000 schools funded; deadline extended. 

• September 12: Final deadline for data submission.

What to Watch

• Update after the September 12 deadline on funding disbursement rates.

• Government responses to schools under financial strain.

• Measures introduced to ease connectivity barriers for rural schools.