Khalwale Rallies Parliament to Save Kibaki’s Free Education Legacy
Kakamega Senator Dr. Boni Khalwale has urged Parliament to intervene and safeguard the Free Primary and Secondary Education programme, warning that recent funding cuts by the Treasury threaten to reverse one of Kenya’s most transformative post-independence achievements.
“If ever there was a time the nation needed Parliament, it is NOW. The great transformational dream and legacy of President Mwai Kibaki of free Primary and Secondary education must be protected at all costs,” Khalwale stated on Thursday.
His remarks follow a controversial declaration by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, who told the National Assembly Education Committee on July 24 that the government can no longer fully sustain free basic education due to budgetary constraints and rising student enrolment.
Treasury Reduces Capitation Amid Fiscal Pressure
In his address to lawmakers, CS Mbadi revealed that capitation for secondary school students would drop from Ksh22,244 to Ksh16,900 per learner, citing limited fiscal space and competing national priorities.
“Currently, learners are provided with tuition and operations costs at the rate of Ksh1,420 for primary education. For junior school, it is Ksh15,042 per child, and in senior secondary school, it is Ksh22,244,” Mbadi explained.
He added that these rates are now “untenable” due to fiscal pressures, but left the door open for a future review if revenue improves.
Kibaki’s Education Legacy: A National Milestone
Kenya’s Free Primary Education (FPE) programme was launched in January 2003 by the late President Mwai Kibaki, marking a major policy shift aimed at achieving universal basic education. It eliminated school fees, enabling millions of children from poor and rural backgrounds to attend school.
In 2008, the policy was expanded to include Free Day Secondary Education, making Kenya one of the few African countries to offer 12 years of free basic schooling.
Within the first year of implementation, over 1.5 million new pupils joined primary schools. According to UNESCO, Kenya’s literacy rate soared to 81% by 2015, a significant leap that helped boost economic participation, civic awareness, and gender equity.
The FPE model became a regional benchmark, drawing praise and support from international development partners.
Ruto’s Campaign Promise Under Fire
Critics argue that the Treasury’s new stance undermines President William Ruto’s 2022 campaign pledge to deliver free and quality education for all. The Kenya Kwanza manifesto prominently promised to expand capitation, hire more teachers, and eliminate hidden school costs.
Senator Khalwale’s comments are seen as a direct challenge to the administration’s departure from its own commitments. Education advocates warn that unless Parliament steps in, public schools may start reintroducing fees, excluding vulnerable learners and deepening inequality.
“This is not just about numbers—it’s about the future of millions of children,” said an education policy expert in Nairobi. “We are on the verge of reversing 20 years of hard-won gains.”
What’s at Stake for Kenya’s Education System
With rising inflation, high youth unemployment, and widening inequality, education remains a pillar of Kenya’s development agenda. The Constitution of Kenya (Article 53) guarantees every child the right to free and compulsory basic education.
Stakeholders are now calling for urgent debate in Parliament to protect this right and prevent a rollback of Kenya’s most successful social policy.
As pressure builds, the fate of Kibaki’s education dream now rests with legislators, who must choose between upholding a generational legacy—or presiding over its collapse.
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