Education PS Prof Julius Bittok breaks silence on capitation formula
Parents puzzled by shrinking school resources can now get clarity after Education Principal Secretary Prof Julius Bittok laid bare how government capitation is calculated and released.
In a detailed explanation, Prof Bittok said each primary school learner is allocated KSh 1,400 per year, with the funds disbursed in three instalments by the National Treasury — split across the school calendar in a 50:30:20 ratio.
But crucially, he stressed, the figures that have sparked debate are not lump sums to schools — they are per learner allocations, carefully broken down into specific spending lines.
“Capitation is structured around defined vote heads based on the estimated cost of supporting each learner,” Prof Bittok explained.
HOW THE MONEY FLOWS
According to the Ministry of Education, once funds are received from the Treasury, they are forwarded to schools alongside an official circular spelling out exactly how every shilling should be spent.
The latest circular — now at the centre of public scrutiny — reflects Term Two disbursements only, not the full annual allocation.
THE REAL FIGURES
Under that second tranche:
KSh 95.25 per learner is allocated for learning materials, including textbooks and stationery
KSh 93.08 per learner goes to school operations, covering staff support, maintenance, utilities and exams
Prof Bittok emphasised that these figures must be understood within the phased release system, warning against interpreting them as the total annual support.
MINISTRY DEFENCE
The PS maintained that the Ministry adjusts allocations across vote heads depending on how much funding is actually received from the Treasury at any given time.
“The distribution is proportional to the funds available per term and aligned to priority expenditure areas,” he said.
BOTTOM LINE
The Ministry insists the system remains structured and transparent — but the modest per-learner amounts are likely to keep pressure on schools already struggling to stretch limited resources.
