Thousands of primary school learners across Kenya risk being sidelined from crucial government capitation after 3,485 schools were flagged in a nationwide audit for errors in their data submissions. The review, covering all 47 counties, revealed multiple cases of schools submitting incomplete or incorrectly formatted information, raising concerns over accountability in the education sector.
According to the audit, the biggest challenge lies in formatting. A total of 2,652 schools submitted records in the wrong templates, which undermines uniform reporting standards. These institutions have now been directed to resubmit their details using the official forms provided by the Ministry of Education to avoid delays in fund disbursement.
Another 735 schools were found to have submitted incomplete data, with missing enrolment numbers, school codes, or essential attachments. In some cases, administrators left mandatory fields blank, jeopardizing the eligibility of their learners for government support. Additionally, 75 schools duplicated their submissions, while 97 either failed to submit data entirely or sent in reports without the required attachments.
Counties such as Baringo, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, and Kakamega dominated the list of flagged cases, with widespread errors reported across sub-counties. The audit highlighted systemic challenges in adherence to data guidelines, particularly in rural and remote areas where internet connectivity remains unreliable.
Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) Prof. Julius Bitok told MPs that out of the country’s 32,000 primary schools, 20,000 had already been cleared, with more than Sh13 billion disbursed. However, he admitted that technical glitches, including a fibre cut last weekend, had slowed down the process.
The National Assembly Committee on Education has expressed concerns about “ghost schools” siphoning funds meant for genuine learners. Committee Chair Julius Melly warned that fake enrolments and misreported data could be draining billions of shillings annually.
President William Ruto, addressing teachers at State House, acknowledged delays in the 50-30-20 capitation model and attributed them to misalignment between Kenya’s July–June financial year and the January–December school calendar. He ordered the Treasury and Education ministries to harmonize the two systems, warning that learners must not suffer from budgetary inefficiencies.
As schools wait for clearance and funds, stakeholders are calling for flexible submission options, especially in ASAL regions, where poor connectivity hampers digital compliance. Unless these challenges are urgently addressed, thousands of pupils may be denied essential resources for learning.
