Raila turns heat on CS Mbadi over plans to scrap free education
By Aloys Michael, July 25, 2025ODM leader Raila Odinga today issued a stern admonition to the national government over delayed education financing, urging immediate release of capitation funds ahead of school reopening and underscoring that we cannot joke with education.
In a public address in Kakamega County on Friday, July 25, 2025, Raila condemned the discrepancy between official claims and ground reality.
“We cannot joke with matters of education. We, as the ODM Party we have said we want free education from primary, secondary and even tertiary level. We have said Secondary education is a must,” he asserted.
“Until the Treasury Cabinet Secretary release enough funds for secondary education, in capitation matters, no jokes again.”
Raila insisted that the full capitation rate of Ksh22,244 per learner for the 2023/2024 financial year must be honoured.
“The government must release all monies owed to schools. It must also release capitation at the approved rate of Ksh22,244 per child for the financial year 2023/2024,” he emphasised, challenging the Treasury to translate rhetoric into action.
Raila accused the administration of funding only 14 to 20 per cent of the capitation per pupil in many cases.
“It is not true that the Kenya Kwanza administration has enhanced any funding for free education,” he said.
“Failure to release full capitation to all schools is affecting learning differently across the country. While schools with developed infrastructure and functional non-state support can survive with the shortage, poorer schools can’t.”
Govt on capitation
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announced that the government can no longer afford to provide free primary and secondary education.
Appearing before the National Assembly committee on Thursday, July 24, 2025, the CS claimed that free basic education was no longer sustainable, citing increased numbers of students in schools and constrained fiscal resources.
He also said that the capitation grant for secondary schools would now be Ksh16,900 per child, down from Ksh22,244.
“Currently, learners are provided with tuition and operations costs at the rate of KSh1,420 for primary education. For junior school, it is Ksh15,042 per child, and in senior secondary school, it is Ksh22,244 per child,” he stated.
“However, due to constrained fiscal space and other emerging priorities within the education sector, updating these rates might be untenable. The government will, however, consider reviewing this rate should revenue performance improve.”
Mbadi also broached the subject of national exam payments, revealing that the government was considering having students pay registration fees for national exams.