President William Ruto on Wednesday, January 3, bowed to Azimio Leader Raila Odinga's ultimatum to release funds for school capitation.
In a statement from State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed, it was reported that the National Treasury had released Ksh31.34 billion in preparation for school opening next week.
Ksh4.74 billion of the total sum was disbursed to the State Department for Basic Education towards the facilitation of free primary education for Term 1.
Additionally, the State Department was further given Ksh7.6 billion as capitation for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).
Hussein Mohammed explained that the rest of the money would be used for school examinations and invigilation fees (Ksh2.8 billion) and free day secondary education (Ksh16.2 billion).
In his Tuesday statement, Raila had accused Ruto of managing the education sector through lies remarking that the total money owed to schools from the Financial Year 2022/2023 was Ksh18 billion.
"As schools await opening head teachers are struggling to meet the basic resourcing needs of their schools," Raila had stated.
Raila further remarked that Ruto had lied to parents by stating that the Kenya Kwanza administration had increased allocations to the education sector and enhanced capitation for all learners.
"The government must release all the monies owed to schools. It must also release capitation at the approved rate of Ksh22,244 per child for the financial year 2023/2024," Raila issued an ultimatum.
"We urge all Parents Teachers Associations and school Boards of Management across the country to rise to the occasion and demand full-end equitable sharing of education funding. We will support such demands."
Raila's ultimatum was made a day two days after President William Ruto complained that the opposition was actively sabotaging his administration.
