The Kenya Kwanza government has maintained the trend of prioritising education by allocating the sector the lion’s share of the 2025–26 national budget.
The education sector secured Sh702.7) billion, translating to 28 per cent of the Sh4.29 trillion total expenditure.
This is Sh44.5 billion more than the Sh656.6 billion allocated in the 2024–25 financial year, which accounted for 27.6 per cent of the Sh3.92 trillion total expenditure.
In the 2023–24 financial year, the sector received Sh628.6 billion – 27.4 per cent of the national budget.
That was an increase of Sh84.2 billion from the Sh544.4 billion allocated in 2022–23.
The substantial funding is aimed at supporting school capitation for primary, junior schools, TVET, and university institutions.
It will also cover the salaries of teachers, instructors, and lecturers, along with the development and expansion of educational facilities.
While presenting budget estimates and revenue raising measures in the National Assembly on Thursday, June 12, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the proposed allocation includes Sh387.2 billion to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
He said the TSC allocation will include Sh7.2 billion for recruitment of intern teachers, and Sh980 million for capacity building of teachers on the Competency-Based Education.
Mbadi said free primary education has been allocated Sh7 billion, Sh28.9 billion for Junior schools’ capitation, Sh51.9 billion for free day secondary education.
The CS said he has proposed the allocation of Sh5.9 billion for the administration of national examinations
The school feeding programme received Sh3 billion and Sh4 billion for Technical, Vocational, Educational Training and Entrepreneurship project.
Infrastructure development for primary and secondary schools received Sh1.7 billion, Sh1.4 billion for construction and equipping of TVET institutions and vocational training centres.
The Kenya Primary Education Equity in Learning programme was allocated Sh13.3 billion, Sh2.3 billion went to Kenya Secondary School Quality Improvement project.
Other proposed allocations in the Ministry of Education include Sh993 million for research, science technology and renovation and Sh41.5 billion to the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb).
