Term Three of the 2026 academic year has officially begun, with pre-primary, primary, junior and senior schools reopening across the country.
In a statement on Monday, August 24, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced that the government has released Ksh18.5 billion in capitation.
"To facilitate seamless operations and the conduct of school activities in the new term, the Government has already released Ksh18,508,271,486.60 as capitation for Term 3 for learners in all public basic education institutions," the statement read.
According to Ogamba, the total allocation has been distributed across the various levels of basic education, with Ksh1,401,089,978.50 set aside for Free Primary Education, Ksh6,143,719,839.60 for Free Day Junior School Education, and Ksh10,963,461,668.50 for Free Day Secondary Education.
"The government affirms its commitment to fulfil its duty to learners and educational institutions, in line with Article 53(1)(b) of the Constitution that entitles every child to free and compulsory basic education," the statement added.
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Ogamba also directed school heads and principals to ensure the funds are used responsibly and solely for the benefit of learners.
"School heads and principals are directed to ensure prudent use of these public resources entrusted to their care for the benefit of learners, and to desist from imposing any unauthorised levies," the statement further read.
Ogamba further warned that action would be taken against school officials found to have misused public funds or imposed illegal charges on learners.
"As a Ministry, we will deal firmly with any verified cases of misappropriation of resources and the imposition of unauthorised levies," the statement concluded.
This comes days after Ogamba dismissed social media reports that the third term opening dates for basic education institutions and Teacher Training Colleges have been changed.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 19, he said the academic calendar remains unchanged.
"Our attention has been drawn to misleading information circulating on various social media platforms, purporting that the academic calendar for basic education institutions and Teacher Training Colleges has been changed.
"We wish to clarify that the academic calendar for basic education institutions and Teacher Training Colleges remains unchanged," the statement read in part.
Ogamba said basic education institutions will open for the third term on Monday, August 24, and run until October 23, 2026.
Teachers Training Colleges will also reopen on August 24 but will close on November 6, 2026, adding that national assessments and examinations will proceed as scheduled.
"National assessments and examinations will proceed as currently scheduled, in line with the timetable issued by the Kenya National Examinations Council," the statement added.
