Free primary and secondary education still in place, PS Bitok clarifies

Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has clarified that free primary and secondary education will not be scrapped, addressing widespread concerns sparked by recent remarks from Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.

Speaking during a Parliamentary session on Thursday, CS Mbadi revealed that the country is 'living a lie' in its promise to provide free education, arguing that the government can no longer sustain the program.

He attributed this challenge to Kenya's growing debt obligations, which have significantly reduced funding available for other key functions, including school capitation.

However, speaking at St. Thomas Girls Secondary School in Kilifi on Friday, PS Bitok explained that the government will lobby Parliament to bridge the funding gap for capitation and national examinations.

“I want to assure the country that the policy on free primary and secondary education has not changed. The government will continue financing education through capitation as it has been over the years," he said.

He added that despite allocating the ministry a historical Ksh.702 billion in the current financial year, the funds don't match the funding needs required in the education sector.

“Growing demand means we must work even harder to ensure these investments reach every learner, especially through capitation. We are continuing to engage Parliament so that we get the required resources to support education in this country," Bitok noted. 

The PS further defended CS Mbadi's remarks, citing that they were taken out of context. 

“What he underscored, and what we reaffirm, is the need for closer collaboration with Parliament to ensure that education funding keeps pace with the growing needs of our learners," he added.

The PS also announced the rollout of a new education data system, Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS), to replace NEMIS to enhance accuracy and efficiency in distribution of capitation.

“We are overhauling the system. With KEMIS, we can track every student, every teacher, every transfer, eliminating delays and ghost entries,” he said.