The 2025-26 budget allocates KSh701.9billion (about 28% of total) to education with KSh22.2 billion for free primary school, yet there is no clear allocation for junior secondary (7-9) undermining promises for universal free basic education. Despite the large allocation, funding for school feeding programs was cut by 600M, affecting nearly 50,000 school children who depended on the meals to attend the school.
The new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) which was brought to the light in 2017, has been rushed and inconsistent with frequent changes, uneven rollout and widespread teacher unpreparedness. Which leaves us with a question, is this new system necessary?
Several challenges have come with this new approach to education. Lack of infrastructure and safety concerns, inequality, learning loss, higher education costs and youth prospects are just some of major setbacks.
For instance, several schools have reported that there’s overcrowding in classrooms, cramped facilities and unsafe environment. In nomadic and rural areas, reasons gasps remain extreme due to chronic under-investment. Boarding schools face a higher risk has the students are expected to be in such conditions for a longer period of time! Many parents wonder how their children are even supposed to succeed by coping up with the stress in their various schools.
Not forgetting the highest levels of education, universities. Several universities face technical hiccups, lack of awareness and funding bottlenecks. The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) remains under strain, delaying support to many students in the country. Graduates confront rising unemployment, underemployment and economic hardship. Many feel marginalized by misaligned curricula and weak links to the job market.
Kenya stands at a pivotal point. With the Constitution guaranteeing universal education rights, and funding growing in nominal terms, the country has made measurable gains. Yet persistent under‑investment, mismanagement, unsafe environments, curriculum confusion and widening inequality threaten to stall progress.
