Auditor General flags Sh117b school funding gap, says schools remain underfunded

A special report by the auditor-general has exposed massive funding deficits in the country’s school system, amounting to sh117 billion over four years under review, raising fresh questions over the government’s ability to sustain free education. This comes amid growing concerns over education financing, as the basic education principal secretary, Prof. Julius Bitok, told the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee that the ministry is currently facing a funding shortfall of more than Sh100 billion in the current financial year. The government has, in the meantime, released sh23 billion in capitation for the second term, which begins next week.