Kiharu Member of Parliament (MP) Ndindi Nyoro has sharply criticised the Kenya Kwanza government for its failure to disburse capitation funds to schools, leaving educational institutions struggling as students prepare for critical national examinations.
Speaking at a public event in his Kiharu constituency on Sunday, September 7, 2025, Nyoro linked the delays to Kenya’s alarming debt crisis, with the country borrowing KSh 145 million every hour.
Nyoro highlighted the dire state of Kenya’s public debt, which he says has ballooned to over Ksh12.12 trillion, with Ksh3.5 trillion borrowed in the last three years alone.
“As it is now, the country of Kenya has a debt portfolio of sovereign debt of over Ksh12.12 trillion or thereabouts. For the last three years alone, the country of Kenya has borrowed over Ksh3.5 trillion. Therefore, every single year, we are borrowing Ksh1.45 trillion, like last financial year, and therefore, every month, Kenya is borrowing over Ksh100 billion, and every single day, Kenya is borrowing over Ksh3.5 billion. Every one hour, mkopo wa Kenya unaongezeka na Ksh145 million,” Nyoro said.
“Mimi nauliza wale wote ambao wako kwa nafasi ya kuongoza nchi in every level, especially the national treasury, tafadhali, yes, we are going towards elections, but you do not have to put our country in such kind of distress just to be seen there is something ongoing.”
Also Watch: Willis Otieno questions Kenya’s rising debt
One-week ultimatum
He accused the National Treasury of prioritising debt servicing over funding schools, leaving institutions without the capitation funds needed to operate effectively.
The lawmaker has given the government an ultimatum, demanding that the capitation funds for primary and secondary schools must be released by this week.
“The only thing we are doing is moving forward as Kenya in terms of development, and overborrowing is not one of those issues that takes a country forward. Tunaona ministry ya elimu wanasema mambo mengi ati kutuma capitation katika shule kama hii wanaleta other things ati kujiandikisha. Tafadhali, Ministry of Education, this is the term ambayo wanafunzi wanafanya mtihani, na sasa tunaenda wiki kadhaa, na hamjatumia shule pesa ya capitation,” he said.
“How do you expect our schools to run? Kama hakuna pesa, muambie wazazi hakuna pesa; muache vizingizio ati registration. We want capitation in our schools sent latest next week ambayo inaanza kesho.”
The MP’s remarks come at a critical time, as schools face significant financial challenges due to delayed capitation disbursements.
With the third term underway, students are preparing for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA), and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA).
School capitation concerns
Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara has also accused the government of diverting education funds to economic empowerment programmes while schools grapple with delayed capitation.
Speaking on Friday, September 5, 2025, at a graduation ceremony in Naivasha town, the lawmaker expressed frustration that learners had already resumed classes while schools continued to struggle without the disbursement of capitation funds.
“Capitation is not coming; it is delayed. The children have opened schools, and yet we can see a lot of squandering of money and resources in things they are calling empowerment,” Kihara said.
