By Faith Nyabuto
The education sector is facing a crisis as several schools have complained of not receiving capitation funds due to unverified accounts.
According to Basic Education Permanent Secretary Bitok, about 3,000 schools, including more than 1,200 secondary schools and 600 junior secondary schools, have so far received the funds.
However, nearly 29,000 schools are still awaiting disbursement, which will only be released after verification of their accounts.
Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi criticised the delays, arguing that education is a key driver for global competitiveness and should not be disrupted by bureaucratic inefficiencies.
He said the government must ensure the system works smoothly to enable access to affordable education.
“Capitation should be audited to determine whether it has served its purpose, because some parents are still paying more despite schools receiving funds,” Amisi observed.
He added that every child should access affordable education, particularly needy students.
Migori Senator Eddy Oketch also expressed concern that the number of schools eligible for capitation is not tallying with official records.
He attributed the discrepancies to inflation and population growth, saying the ministry had failed to disburse the correct amounts, leaving some schools short-changed.
He urged MPs to harmonise records and track the actual number of learners benefiting from government allocations.
Kacheliba MP Titus Lotee underscored the importance of every student having a birth certificate to ease registration and eliminate discrepancies.
He noted that teachers struggle to provide accurate enrolment data due to the constant movement of learners, compounded by challenges such as food and nutrition shortages.
Lotee further condemned the existence of ghost schools and ghost workers, who he said siphon funds meant for development.
The leaders collectively called on the National Assembly to ensure adequate funding for the Ministry of Education.
They stressed that allocations should be based on accurate data and sound justification to guarantee the sustainability of capitation and support for learners across the country.