School heads decry late disbursement of funds

By Peter Ochieng

Secondary school heads across the country are up in arms, literally speaking.

The school heads are lamenting over delayed disbursement of capitation funds by the national government.

Kahi Indimuli, Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) chairperson said it is unfortunate that they never recieve 100 per cent of what the government is supposed to offer, under the capitation program.

“We don't even get 100% of the Sh22,000, there was a balance of Sh4,000 last year, this year we have received Sh17,000, and we need the balance,” said Kahi, the Machakos Boys High School Principal.

He spoke in Mombasa on Wednesday, during KESSHA conference.

Under the same breadth, school heads want the government to increase capitation per student, from the current Sh22, 000 to Sh30, 000.

The increased allocation, they say will help them cover up 'budgetary holes' occassioned by rise in the cost of basic commodities.

"We propose that the Ministry of Education considers increasing the capitation from the current figure of Sh22, 244 we had proposed last year to Sh30,000."

“For sub-county schools, for example, we must provide lunch, we have to buy maize and maize has gone up, we have to buy beans and a 2kg tin is Sh500...for some of us who provide rice, a kilo of rice has gone up,” added a head teacher.

Cabinet Secretary (CS) for education Ezekiel Machogu assured the headteachers that everything is under control.