The Ministry of Education has clarified the structure of primary school capitation disbursement following a circular issued on April 23 and signed by Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok.
In his statement, Bitok has explained how funds for learning materials are allocated per learner under Account 1, based on enrolment data extracted from the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) on November 25, 2024.
The clarification comes amid public uproar over how the government distributes capitation funds to public schools, particularly the breakdown of amounts allocated per learner.
NEMIS-Based Enrolment Determines Capitation Allocation
According to the circular, the Ministry of Education used verified learner data drawn from NEMIS as of November 25, 2024, to calculate the capitation disbursement.
Also Read: Kenyans React as Govt Allocates Ksh 95 to Each Learner
The system ensures that funding is based on officially registered learners, reducing discrepancies in enrolment figures reported by schools.
According to Bitok, capitation is capped at Ksh 1,400 per learner annually and is disbursed in phases aligned with the academic calendar.
Funds are released by the National Treasury to the Ministry of Education and then transferred to schools in termly installments following a structured ratio.
Upon receipt of the funds, the Ministry issues a detailed circular outlining how the allocation is distributed across different expenditure lines, usually referred to as vote heads.
In the breakdown provided, the government states that Ksh 95.25 per learner has been released under Account 1 for learning materials.
| Category | Allocation per Learner (KSh) | Purpose |
| Textbook maintenance | 5 | Maintenance and upkeep of textbooks |
| Exercise books | 40 | Purchase of exercise books for learners |
| Teachers’ guides & reference materials | 15 | Support instructional planning and teaching resources |
| Stationery | 35.25 | General classroom stationery needs |
PS Bitok explained that these figures are derived from estimated per-learner costs and are intended to guide schools in utilizing the funds effectively.
Also Read: Ministry of Education to Review School Uniform Prices in All Public Schools
Ministry of Education Budget Allocation
Despite the shortfalls, the education sector received the highest allocation in the National Government’s Budget Estimates for the 2025/26 financial year.
According to an analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Office, the sector was allocated KSh 701.1 billion, representing 28.1 percent of the total national budget.
The allocation was expected to support capitation funding across primary schools, junior secondary schools, secondary schools, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, and universities.
The funds were also set aside for the remuneration of teachers, instructors, and lecturers, as well as the development, maintenance, and expansion of education infrastructure.
In January, the government released KSh 44.3 billion for Term One capitation, representing 50 percent of the annual allocation.
Of this, KSh 26.1 billion went to Free Day Secondary Education, KSh 14.5 billion to Free Day Junior School Education, and KSh 3.7 billion to Free Primary Education.
