President William Ruto has issued a stern, non-negotiable directive to all school heads: no learner in public schools is to be sent home for lack of fees, declaring that the government has fully disbursed capitation funds.

Speaking from West Pokot, the President sought to diffuse a growing national anxiety fueled by reports of covert fee hikes and parents being turned away at the gates. His intervention comes days after Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro raised the alarm, claiming schools were quietly factoring in unauthorized charges to cover budget deficits.

"The Money is in the Bank"

Ruto’s message was aimed directly at doubting parents and rogue principals. He announced that his administration has released KES 44 billion to schools this week, increasing the capitation per learner from KES 17,000 to KES 22,000.

"Mambo ni mawili," the President warned, invoking his signature phrase. "Either the money is in the school account, or someone is playing games. But the child must be in class. We have paid for their education."

The Reality on the Ground

Despite the presidential decree, the situation in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) remains chaotic. Parents across Nairobi and Kiambu report being asked for "remedial fees," "lunch levies," and "infrastructure development funds"—clever euphemisms for school fees.

• The Gap: Headteachers argue that while capitation has increased, the cost of commodities (food, electricity) has doubled, leaving them with no choice but to ask parents for support.
• The confusion: Grade 9 learners transitioning to Senior School are facing a shortage of textbooks and desks, forcing parents to buy essentials that should be free.
• The Politics: The clash between Ruto’s assurances and Ndindi Nyoro’s warnings exposes a rift within the ruling coalition, with MPs fearing voter backlash over the high cost of education.

A Test of Authority

This directive is a test of the Ministry of Education’s enforcement power. In the past, such orders have been ignored by principals who know the Ministry lacks the inspectors to police every school. But with the President staking his political capital on the "Free Education" promise, the consequences for defiance may be severe.

For the parent in Kibera or Mathare, the President’s words are welcome, but until the principal at the gate opens the door without demanding a bank slip, they remain just words.