Education departments decry funding shortfalls before MPs

State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training Principal Secretary Esther Muoria appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Education, May 15, 2026. /PARLIAMENT

Three education sector state departments have raised concerns over budget shortfalls before the National Assembly Committee on Education, warning that the funding gaps could undermine student support programmes, institutional operations and development projects.

The concerns emerged during appearances before the committee chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, where the departments outlined deficits affecting technical training institutions, universities, research programmes and student financing.

The State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) said it requires an additional Sh19.2 billion to support student scholarships, clear pending bills and address other financial obligations.

Principal Secretary Esther Muoria told MPs that the funding deficit was affecting sponsorship programmes meant to keep vulnerable students in school and reduce dropout rates.

Muoria said the department also needed the funds to settle pending bills owed to suppliers serving TVET institutions across the country.

Documents tabled before the committee showed the department was separately seeking Sh589 million in complementary government funding to facilitate the establishment and upgrading of equipment in TVET workshops.

“The establishment and upgrading of TVET workshops across 69 institutions will ensure that TVETs have state-of-the-art equipment,” Muoria said.

The State Department for Science, Research and Innovation also complained of underfunding after its development allocation was reportedly moved to a different vote head despite being captured in the 2026 Budget Policy Statement.

Principal Secretary Shaukat Abdulrazak told the committee that the department had initially been allocated Sh1.312 billion under the Budget Policy Statement before the funds were shifted, leaving it without any development allocation.

Abdulrazak termed the move a violation of budget processes and procedures and urged Parliament to intervene.

The committee assured the department that the matter would be followed up.

Principal Secretary Shaukat Abdulrazak

Meanwhile, the State Department for Higher Education said it was facing a major funding shortfall in the 2026-27 financial year after receiving nearly half of its requested recurrent budget allocation.

Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala said the department had sought Sh311.9 billion for recurrent expenditure and Sh11.4 billion for development expenditure.

However, the proposed estimates allocated the department Sh155.2 billion for recurrent expenditure and Sh8.9 billion for development, leaving a substantial financing gap.

The department oversees 43 universities and agencies including the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).

Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala

According to Inyangala, the allocations are expected to support implementation of the new higher education funding model, university scholarships, student loans as well as research and innovation programmes.

She said funding for student loans and scholarships had nevertheless been increased as the government moves to improve access and equity in higher education.

Overall, the education sector was allocated Sh702 billion in the 2025-26 financial year, including Sh29.8 billion for development expenditure and Sh672.3 billion for recurrent expenditure.

Of the allocation, the State Department for Higher Education received Sh144.6 billion, comprising Sh141 billion recurrent expenditure and Sh2.78 billion development expenditure.

The Higher Education Loans Board was separately allocated Sh42.5 billion for student loans and bursaries, while the State Department for TVET received Sh35.4 billion in recurrent expenditure and Sh7.8 billion for development projects.