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International Day of Education: Centering Youth as Agents of Change in Kenya’s Education System
On 26 January, our Associate Programme Officer-Africa, Roselyne Onyango, participated in a live television discussion on GBS TV Africa, hosted by Evan Kibe, alongside University of Nairobi student activist Samuel Jobunga. The discussion focused on the growing crisis of education privatisation and the rising cost of education in Kenya.
The segment, titled “Ubinafsishaji na Gharama ya Elimu” (Privatisation and the Cost of Education), took place at a critical time, as many Kenyan families struggle to meet education-related expenses at the start of the 2026 school year, despite the government's obligation to provide free primary and free day secondary education.
During the discussion, Roselyne highlighted a major disconnect between high-level budget allocations and the lived realities of parents and learners. While the 2025/26 budget stood at a historic KES701 billion, she pointed out that a significant portion is absorbed by recurrent costs, leaving teachers underpaid and insufficient resources for the development of the sector. As a result, many learners continue to face barriers to accessing quality public education.
“The government is not linked to the realities on the ground,” Roselyne noted. “While the cost of living continues to rise, capitation per child in public schools has not increased meaningfully. This gap has led to hidden costs in the provision of public education that have effectively locked out the poorest children from the public education system.”
The discussions also raised concerns about the issues of inadequate funding to schools that have forced headteachers to impose ‘hidden costs’ that include admission fees, motivation fees, examination fees, and activity fees in order to keep schools operational and shift the financial burden to households. This issue persists despite repeated declarations by the State that public education is free.
Samuel Jobunga further critiqued the new University Funding Model, arguing that the banding system lacks transparency and fails to meet the State's obligation to provide accessible and affordable higher education.
In conclusion, Roselyne emphasised that GI-ESCR will continue advocating for the government to provide quality, adequately funded public schools to ensure that education remains a right, not a privilege for the wealthy.
“We need a clear implementation plan and standardised policy on the cost of education,” she urged. “When the Ministry says education is free, but one public school administration requires KES 10,000 and another requires KES 7,500 for admission, we are failing our children. The government must undertake a comprehensive assessment of the real cost of educating a child in order to plan and budget for the sector effectively.”
GI-ESCR will continue to partner with local organisations to monitor developments in the education sector in Kenya, advocate for public participation and human rights-based financing, and protect public services against the harmful effects of privatisation and the commercialisation of education.
Watch the full discussion here: https://www.youtube.com/live/mD-17gm92P4?si=woOvfV4YtTOGYPFK
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