CS Migos: No room for misuse of school funds

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos has announced that the government will strengthen the school audit system to ensure the prudent use of public funds in the education sector.

Speaking at the inaugural National Retreat of Public Universities Councils in Mombasa, Migos revealed that the Ministry of Education has been allocated Ksh702.7 billion in the 2025/2026 national budget, which represents nearly 28% of the total KSh4.239 trillion budget.

“We have already surpassed the UNESCO recommendation that 20 percent of a nation’s budget be allocated to education. We will work within that figure. We will try as much as possible to ensure those resources are utilized optimally and effectively, without undue wastage to cover the largest number of our students,” said Migos.

He emphasized that any school heads found misappropriating funds, as indicated in audit reports, will be held accountable.

From the allocation, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will receive Ksh387.2 billion, which includes Ksh7.2 billion to recruit 24,000 intern teachers in the first quarter of the financial year.

Additionally, Ksh5.9 billion has been set aside for national examinations, while KSh3 billion will be allocated to the School Feeding Programme. Free Primary Education will receive KSh7 billion.

The CS clarified that the school feeding budget remains intact, assuring that learners in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and informal settlements will continue receiving meals to support school attendance and retention.

Migos also welcomed a recent High Court ruling that declared extra levies imposed by schools unlawful, reinforcing the government’s stance.

“Those levies, as we had said before, are illegal, and the court was just affirming our position that no levy should be added by school administrators to parents because we give free education and capitation to all institutions,” he warned