The Ministry of Education has finally moved to quiet the storm surrounding the disbursement of Free Primary Education (FPE) funds, providing a granular breakdown of the controversial Sh188 per learner recently released to public schools.
The clarification comes after a circular dated April 23, 2026, went viral on social media, sparking an outcry from parents and education stakeholders who labeled the figures “ridiculously low” for the management of learning institutions.
Taking to his official platforms to set the record straight, Education Principal Secretary Amb. (Prof.) Julius K. Bitok explained that the Sh188.33 total figure—comprised of Sh95.25 for instructional materials and Sh93.08 for operations—is not a random figure but a specific tranche aligned with the government’s termly funding cycle.
Understanding the Math
According to the PS, the approved annual capitation for primary schools is capped at Sh1,400 per learner. However, these funds are not released all at once. The National Treasury remits money to the Ministry of Education on a termly basis using a 50:30:20 ratio.
“The circular in reference is based on the second-term tranche as received from the National Treasury,” Prof. Bitok stated. He emphasized that the amounts shown are per learner, not per school, a distinction that clarifies how a school with 1,000 students would receive Sh188,330 for this specific period.
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Where is the Money Going?
The Ministry provided a strict expenditure breakdown (vote heads) to ensure accountability. The funds are split into two distinct accounts:
Account 1 (SIMBA): Sh95.25 (Instructional Materials)
This account is ring-fenced strictly for learning tools. The breakdown includes:
- Exercise Books: Sh40.00
- Stationery: Sh35.25
- Teacher Guides & Reference Materials: Sh15.00
- Textbook Maintenance: Sh5.00
Account 2 (GPA): Sh93.08 (School Operations)
This account covers the day-to-day running of the institution: - Support Staff Wages: Sh20.00
- Maintenance & Improvement (RMI): Sh23.00
- Activity Fees: Sh10.00
- Electricity, Water, and Conservancy: Sh8.00
- Assessments & Examinations: Sh7.08
- Capacity Building/BOM Meetings: Sh10.00
- Other smaller allocations cover local transport, environment, and contingencies.
Strict Accountability Measures
To prevent misappropriation, the PS issued a “strict adherence” directive. All Head Teachers are now required to acknowledge receipt of these funds via the NEMIS platform immediately.
Furthermore, in a move to increase transparency at the local level, every school must display the breakdown of the capitation grant on their public notice boards. The budget must also be tabled and discussed in Board of Management (BOM) meetings before a single shilling is spent.
“The capitation amount is arrived at based on clear expenditure lines determined by estimated costs incurred by each learner,” the PS concluded, assuring the public that the government remains committed to supporting the Basic Education sub-sector despite the phased nature of fund releases.
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