The government has released Sh44.2 billion in capitation funds for Term One of the 2026 academic year, as public basic education institutions prepare to reopen next week.
In a statement on Friday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the release of the funds will facilitate the seamless conduct of school activities in the new term, which begins on 5 January 2026, with Grade 10 learners expected to report to their respective Senior Schools from January 12, 2026.
The bulk of the funds, Sh26.08 billion, has been earmarked for free day secondary education, followed by Sh14.45 billion for free day junior school education and Sh3.7 billion for Free Primary Education.
“The government affirms its commitment to fulfil its duty to learners and educational institutions, in line with Article 53 of the Constitution that entitles every child to free and compulsory basic education,” Ogamba said.
He noted that all basic education institutions across the country are expected to reopen on Monday, 5 January, in line with the approved academic calendar.
He added that Ministry of Education field officers, under the guidance of Regional Directors of Education and County Directors of Education, will be deployed to monitor adherence to the calendar as schools resume learning.
“To ensure clarity on the financing framework for senior schools, the Ministry has issued a circular dated 2 January 2026, affirming that fees payable by learners in senior schools remain unchanged, and that the Government will continue to provide capitation at the rate of Sh22,244 per learner per year,” Ogamba said.
School heads and principals have been urged to ensure the prudent use of public resources entrusted to them for the benefit of learners.
The Ministry has also warned against the imposition of extra levies or fees, noting that it will deal firmly with any verified cases of misappropriation of resources or the introduction of unauthorised charges.
On the placement of learners under the Competency-Based Curriculum, Ogamba said the first revision of placements to Grade 10 of Senior School was completed on December 29, 2025. He added that joining instructions for learners who have already been placed have been available on the placement portal since December 30, 2025.
He noted that learners seeking a further review of their placement will have another opportunity to apply between January 6 and January 9, 2026.
The review process aims to allow parents, guardians and learners to present legitimate and verifiable grounds to justify a reconsideration of the initial or revised placement.
To ensure uninterrupted access to education and optimal use of available resources while addressing outstanding placement needs, Ogamba said requests for further review may be initiated through a learner’s junior school or at the senior school of interest.
He added that such requests must be submitted by the head of the institution through the placement portal and processed in accordance with protocols already issued by the Ministry.