School Heads Threaten to Paralyse Learning Over Delayed Capitation Disbursement

School Heads Threaten to Paralyse Learning Over Delayed Capitation Disbursement

Learning in public schools across Kenya is on the brink of collapse. The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) has issued a chilling warning that the continued delay in capitation disbursement could shut down schools mid-term.

On Monday, KESSHA Secretary General Abdi Noor painted a dire picture of the situation. Schools are struggling. Suppliers are not being paid. Operations are paralyzed.

“A majority of the heads are playing hide and seek with the suppliers because there are no adequate funds to pay the suppliers,” Noor revealed.

He also noted that schools have been forced to lay off teachers employed by the Board of Management due to lack of finances.

“Qualified Board of Management teachers are laid off, compromising the quality of education,” Noor stated emphatically.

---

Huge Deficits Despite Government Pledge

According to the Ministry of Education policy, each learner in public secondary schools should be funded at Ksh22,144 per year. This amount is split across three terms—Ksh11,122 in Term One, Ksh6,673 in Term Two, and Ksh4,439 in Term Three.

However, KESSHA insists that the government has failed to meet these obligations.

“In the first term, schools received only Ksh8,818 per student instead of Ksh11,122. That left a deficit of Ksh2,304,” Noor explained.

“This term, only Ksh3,471 per learner has been released, meaning a shortfall of Ksh3,202 per student.”

The figures point to a concerning trend: the state is now Ksh7.6 billion behind in first-term disbursements and owes Ksh10.6 billion for the second term.

---

Desperate Measures Proposed

To salvage the situation, KESSHA has proposed a bold solution. They want parents to resume partial contributions.

“It was better when parents were paying a bit of the funds because there was what we called cost-sharing,” Noor said.

“When the government is unable to pay schools, then parents will be able to do so.”

This suggestion might stir debate, especially among struggling households, but school heads argue it’s the only way to sustain operations if the government continues to delay funds.

---

Call for MPs to Intervene

In addition to parental support, KESSHA has appealed to legislators to come to the rescue of schools.

“We urge MPs to allocate part of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) to address this crisis,” Noor stated.

They believe CDF funding could be redirected—at least temporarily—to keep schools functional and prevent the crisis from escalating further.

---

An Urgent Call to Action

The association emphasized that unless immediate steps are taken, learning will halt. The survival of many schools depends on urgent intervention from the government, parents, and legislators.

“We cannot teach in empty classrooms with unpaid bills and unpaid teachers. Action must be taken now,” Noor warned.

As learners sit in uncertainty and school heads battle to maintain sanity in institutions, all eyes now turn to the Ministry of Education and Treasury. Will they act before it’s too late?

ALSO READ: EPRA Increases Prices of Super Petrol, Diesel & Kerosene in Latest Review

School Heads Threaten to Paralyse Learning Over Delayed Capitation Disbursement