Akello Misori faults Mbadi over claims of govt inability to fund education
Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Secretary-General Akello Misori has taken issue with Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi’s recent remarks before a parliamentary committee, in which he stated that the government lacks the capacity to fully fund education.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Monday, July 28, 2025, Misori criticised the statement as both misleading and unconstitutional, arguing that it directly undermines the fundamental rights of Kenyan children to access education.
Misori’s appeal to Ruto
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He called on President William Ruto to uphold the country’s constitutional mandate that prioritises the rights of children above all else.
“The president is well aware that Kenya has a constitutional provision where the right of the child supersedes any other right,” Misori said.
He also questioned the judgement of CS Mbadi in making such a declaration without adequate consultation.
“Being the CS for Finance in this matter, Hon. Mbadi ought to have consulted widely before committing before the committee of Parliament on the statement that there is a lack of capacity in government,” Misori added.
The union boss warned that such pronouncements risk eroding public trust in the government’s commitment to education and could demoralise stakeholders across the sector.
He emphasised that constitutional obligations must guide national priorities, especially in the allocation of funds for basic and secondary education.
Mbadi’s defence
Mbadi has since addressed growing criticism of Kenya’s Free Day Secondary Education program.
Speaking during the education Thanksgiving ceremony at God Oloo Secondary School in Suba South on Friday, July 25, 2025, Mbadi acknowledged that while the government disburses the full budgeted amount, it falls significantly short of meeting the annual Ksh 22,000 capitation per learner.
He explained that when divided by the number of senior secondary school students, the allocation works out to approximately Ksh 17,000 per student, leaving a substantial funding gap.
“Since the introduction of free day secondary school, the government has not been able to give or allocate every student Ksh22,000, the government disperses all the amount allocated in the budget, but still it is not enough,” he said.
“The only thing I did was to confirm that we have allocated so much budget and we are giving it in full, but it is not enough to give every child in Kenya Ksh 22,000. That budget, if you divide it by the number of students in Kenya who are in senior secondary school, you will only get Ksh 17,000.”
