Ruto orders a review of school capitation before schools reopen in January 2027
On 12 November 2026 President Ruto told the Ministry of Education and the TSC to review government capitation for public schools upwards and report by January 2027. School fees for parents stay at the gazetted amounts until a new notice is published.
What changed
- Speaking at the Kenya Comprehensive School Heads Association meeting in Mombasa, the President ordered the Ministry, the TSC and the unions to rework how much the government pays per learner.
- He asked for a report by January 2027 so that he can decide before the first term starts.
- Capitation today is KES 1,420 per primary learner, KES 15,042 per junior school learner and KES 22,244 per senior school learner.
- He also said primary and junior school capitation will be combined into one model for comprehensive schools.
Why it matters
Capitation is what the government pays schools, not what parents pay. Fees for public senior schools stay at the February 2026 gazetted amounts: free in day schools and at most KES 53,554 a year in boarding schools, until a new gazette notice changes them.
What to do
- Budget for January using the current gazetted fees, half of the year in first term.
- Pay fees only to the account on the school's official fee structure.
- Check back in January for the outcome of the review.
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Add paybillke on GooglePublished 12 November 2026 on paybillke. Last verified 12 November 2026. We refresh news entries quarterly and within 48 hours of any directly relevant ecosystem change. Editorial process.