The government has increased education funding by more than 200 billion shillings since taking office in 2022, underscoring President William Ruto’s commitment to investing in the country’s future.
Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Dr. Raymond Omollo said the increased allocation reflected the government’s recognition of education as a key driver of social and economic development.
Dr. Omollo, who was speaking during a prize-giving ceremony at Chinga Boys Senior School in Nyeri County on Friday, said the story of Kenya has always been closely tied to that of education.
“It is through education that we equip our young people with the knowledge, skills and values needed to build a better society,” he said.
The education sector has been allocated Sh 784 billion in the proposed 2026/27 budget, representing 26.5 percent of the government’s total expenditure of Sh 4.8 trillion.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the allocation marked a significant increase from the funding levels when the Kenya Kwanza administration assumed office in 2022.
Under the proposed budget, basic education will receive 136.6 billion shillings, while higher education has been allocated 163.9 billion shillings.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions will receive 58.5 billion shillings, while 1.3 billion shillings has been earmarked for science, innovation and research programmes.
Funding for free day secondary education and junior secondary schools has been set at a combined Sh 85.3 billion, including Sh 54.6 billion for free day secondary education and 30.7 billion shillings for junior secondary school capitation. Free primary education will receive Sh7 billion.
The Teachers Service Commission has been allocated Sh 424 billion to cover salaries and facilitate the recruitment of additional teachers.
Dr. Omollo said increased funding over the past three years had enabled the government to hire more teachers and expand school infrastructure to improve learning outcomes and support the country’s future workforce.
In addition, he said thousands of learners continue to benefit from bursaries provided through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) and other support programmes aimed at ensuring children are not excluded from education because of financial difficulties.
“Education is not just about having children in school. Infrastructure must be adequate, teachers must be available and laboratories must be built so that we can produce the next generation of human capital to move the nation forward,” he said.
Dr. Omollo also urged students to take advantage of educational opportunities and maintain discipline, describing education as the greatest equaliser.
He warned against social vices such as drug abuse and bullying, saying academic performance alone was not sufficient for success in life.
“Discipline is what will take you places. You might not be the best academically, but if you are disciplined, you can become successful and impactful in life,” he said.
The principal secretary further stressed the need to maintain safety in schools and called on parents, educators and communities to work together to protect learning institutions.
“Our schools must be safe spaces. Parents should have confidence that their children are secure while at school,” he said.
Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira, who accompanied Dr. Omollo at the event, called on parents to play a greater role in instilling discipline and responsibility among learners.
He urged families to use the school mid-term break to teach children the importance of protecting school property and preparing them to become responsible citizens.
Leave a comment