Murang'a: Parents and education stakeholders have welcomed the release of Sh44.1 billion in capitation funds by the government for the first term, 2026. While appreciating the timely move, the stakeholders also called for sustained and adequate financing to support the full implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.
According to Kenya News Agency, stakeholders speaking at Ihura Grounds in Murang'a County during the Murang'a County Education Day celebrations, held under the Inua Masomo programme, emphasized that the timely release of funds is critical in ensuring uninterrupted learning and quality education delivery. They urged the government to continue prioritising education by allocating sufficient resources to support the ongoing rollout of the CBE system, noting that the new curriculum is resource-intensive and requires adequate infrastructure, learning materials, and trained teachers.
Parents attending the event praised the Inua Masomo programme, saying it has significantly reduced the financial burden of transitioning students to senior secondary school. Esther Wangeci, a parent, expressed that the programme has helped many parents who were struggling to raise school fees, giving children a chance to continue their education. She noted that although the release of capitation funds was a positive step, delays in previous years had strained school operations, particularly in public secondary schools, as they heavily depend on capitation to run daily activities.
Another parent, Peter Mwangi, highlighted the economic challenges faced by families in meeting education costs, citing reduced returns from coffee and tea farming. He remarked on the difficulty many families face in paying school fees.
Kinyona Ward MCA Liz Muthoni urged the government to prioritize education and consider vulnerable families, warning that some learners might fail to transition to Grade 10 due to lack of fees. She emphasized the need for targeted support for vulnerable households to ensure no learner is left behind, stating that quality education is the foundation of development and contributes to national growth.
Other stakeholders interviewed pointed out that the late release of funds has strained school operations and affected the smooth running of academic programmes, particularly in public secondary schools. They reiterated that education should remain a national priority, as investing in learners today will translate into long-term social and economic development. They stressed the necessity of proper funding, infrastructure, and teacher support for the success of the costly new education system.
Murang'a County Assembly Majority Leader Sally Kibe mentioned that Parliament has enacted policies to guide education matters and called on the government to match these policies with sufficient budgetary support. During the event, over 5000 students from all-day secondary schools across the county benefited from fully paid term one fees under the Inua Masomo Programme. Additionally, top KJSEA candidates from all 520 public primary schools received support to transition to Junior secondary schools.