President William Ruto has directed the Ministry of Education to review public school capitation upwards to cushion schools against inflation, and expects a report by January 2027.
Speaking on Thursday at the Kenya Comprehensive Schools Heads Association (KECSHA) National Annual General Meeting and Conference at the Sheikh Zayed Children Welfare Centre in Nyali, Mombasa, the President addressed more than 15,000 school heads attending in person, with thousands more joining virtually. KECSHA now represents heads of schools from pre-primary to Grade 9.
Heads have long raised concerns over inadequate funding as costs rise. Ruto said he had instructed Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and the Teachers Service Commission to revisit the numbers so he can decide on the way forward. He said schools have received capitation before opening this year, and that increased investment must translate into measurable improvements in learning.
The President said the government has recruited 100,000 teachers over the past four years and will recruit 20,000 more in December 2026, which he called the largest expansion of the teaching workforce in Kenya's history. He added that 50,000 teachers will be promoted this financial year.
Ruto directed the Ministry to work with KECSHA and submit proposals within 90 days to amend the Basic Education Act. The amendments would set out a clear legal framework for the governance, staffing and financing of comprehensive schools.
Ruto set a national goal that every child can read, write and count by the end of Grade 3 by 2030. He told heads to deploy their strongest teachers to the early grades, saying, "Let no child leave Grade 3 unable to read, write and count."
The four-day conference also featured masterclasses on financial literacy, school health, foundational learning, parental engagement and education innovation, ahead of the 2027 academic performance.
