Kenya’s education sector is facing a severe crisis, according to the Elimu Bora Working Group (EBWG), which has accused schools of rampant corruption, illegal levies, and negligence in student safety. The alarm comes as learners prepare to resume third term on August 25.
In its latest report, EBWG revealed that up to 90 percent of public schools are demanding unlawful admission fees ranging from Sh500 to Sh25,000. These levies, often unreceipted, are locking out learners—only one in four students sent home for non-payment eventually return, the group said.
EBWG Policy Adviser Boaz Waruku blamed the problem on underfunding and delays in government capitation. Although the state provides Sh1,420 per primary pupil, Sh15,042 for junior secondary, and Sh22,244 for senior secondary students, the lobby argued that these allocations do not reflect the true cost of quality education. Worse still, the funds often arrive late, pushing schools to illegally shift the burden to parents.
The group is calling on Education CS Julius Ogamba to issue strict directives against such practices, backed by penalties and quarterly audits. It also proposes transparent reporting of all school accounts and refunds for families already exploited.
On safety, EBWG cited the deadly Endarasha Hillside Academy dormitory fire as a grim reminder of what happens when oversight fails. It accused schools of diverting funds meant for safety measures, leaving learners exposed to avoidable risks. Mandatory safety audits and public reporting of findings should, it says, be enforced without compromise.
The lobby further criticized the government’s slow response to implementing the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER). It urged President Ruto to provide a comprehensive update on the reforms and the real financial requirements of Competency-Based Education (CBE).
“Without bold action,” Waruku warned, “Kenya’s dream of free and safe public education will remain out of reach.”
