President William Ruto has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring universal access to quality education, stating that his government will not compromise on the right of every child to learn.

Speaking during a Sunday church service at ACK St. Martins Church in Kariobangi, the Head of State emphasized that free primary education is enshrined in the Constitution and remains a cornerstone of his government’s agenda.

"The education of our children is important. I want to assure Kenyans that free primary and secondary education is a constitutional right for the citizens of Kenya and we have ensured over the last two years that education is universal and truly accessible because the commitment we have is that education is the greatest empowerment any country can give to its young people and that is why education must be affordable, accessible, of good quality and must be relevant," Ruto said.

The President highlighted strides made over the past two years, noting that his administration has prioritized education as a key pillar of national development.

He reported that more than 23,000 new classrooms have been constructed across the country to accommodate the growing number of learners and improve the learning environment.

“We have ensured that education is not only accessible but also affordable, relevant, and of high quality,” Ruto said, adding that deliberate efforts have been made to leave no student behind, especially in the rollout of the new university funding model.

His comments followed a clarification by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, who on Saturday stated that the government is fully committed to free and compulsory basic education as provided under Article 53 of the Constitution.

Ogamba said he and Treasury CS Mbadi had appeared before the National Assembly’s Education Committee on July 24 to discuss education funding.

"During the meeting, we highlighted the fact that funding for the Free Day Secondary Education programme has in recent years, fallen below the approved rate of Sh22,244 per learner per year," said Ogamba.

He stated that although there is a funding shortfall, the government remains bound by the Constitution and has no intention or power to remove that right.

“Free and compulsory basic education is a constitutional right of every child, pursuant to Article 53 of the Constitution. The Government has neither the intention nor the power to abrogate this sacrosanct right,” said Ogamba.

He said the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury are already working together to push for more allocations from Parliament to fully cover every learner’s needs.

Ruto concluded by assuring Kenyans that the education sector will remain protected from political or financial instability and that his government will continue making meaningful investments to ensure all learners have equal opportunities to succeed.