Lawyer Willis Otieno has urged President William Ruto to address existing challenges in Kenya's primary and secondary education sectors before rolling out plans to fully fund university and college students.
In a statement posted on X on July 29, 2026, Otieno welcomed the government's increased investment in education but questioned the timing of prioritising higher education funding when many families still struggle with basic schooling costs.
Persistent costs burden families
Otieno highlighted that despite government programmes offering free primary and secondary education, parents continue to incur expenses such as school levies, uniforms, learning materials, and transport fees. These costs, he noted, remain barriers preventing some children from attending school.
He also pointed out issues within public schools, including teacher shortages, inadequate classrooms, and limited learning resources, which undermine the quality of education at foundational levels.
"The foundation of every education system is basic education. Strengthen free primary and secondary education first," Otieno urged, stressing the need to ensure every child accesses quality education from early years before expanding promises for university funding.
Education budget and funding gaps
The education sector's allocation in the 2026/27 budget stands at KSh781.3 billion, with specific provisions such as KSh54.6 billion for Free Day Secondary Education, KSh30 billion for junior secondary school capitation, and KSh7 billion for Free Primary Education.
However, concerns about delayed disbursement and shortfalls in capitation funds have been raised in Parliament, with education officials acknowledging that these gaps cause cash flow challenges and unpaid bills at schools.
Context of Ruto's university funding proposal
Otieno’s comments come after President Ruto reiterated his commitment to the universal higher education funding initiative during the Huawei ICT Awards at State House Nairobi on July 28, 2026.
Ruto emphasized collaboration with university vice-chancellors to improve the student-centred funding model, ensuring adequate financial support for every qualifying student. He defended the programme by stating, "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."
The President first announced the plan on July 21, 2026, promising full government funding for all students who qualify for placement in public universities or colleges. The proposed changes are part of amendments to the Higher Education Loans Board Act currently before Parliament, with the government aiming to implement the new model starting September 2026.
Otieno’s perspective adds to ongoing debates about the government's capacity to finance universal university education while maintaining sufficient support for primary and secondary learners and institutions.
