KNUT appeals to Parliament to restore Sh62 billion cut from Education budget

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has called on Parliament to reinstate Sh62 billion that was cut from the education sector’s budget for the 2025-2026 financial year.

The union warns that key education programs will suffer if the funding is not restored. KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu urged lawmakers and the government to review the budget and ensure the Ministry of Education receives adequate funding.

"Education is the pillar of development in the country, and the ministry requires all the money it can possibly get. We are appealing to Parliament and to the Executive arm of the government to review the proposed budgetary allocation," Oyuu said.

"Money meant for examinations and invigilation has been removed in the budget estimates. This has never happened. We are hopeful that the money, which was omitted, will be reinstated," he added.

Oyuu made the remarks at a burial event in Narok County for KNUT Rift Valley Council Chairman John Sampoti Musere, who died after a long illness.

Oyuu stressed that education reforms cannot succeed without proper funding.

"Education affects all facets of the socio-economic and political fabric, thus the need to give it priority in funding. The success or failure of a country is hinged on how seriously a government takes education. We are confident that the President will step in and restore the funding," he said.

Other KNUT leaders also supported these calls.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok told the National Assembly Committee on Education that the budget cuts were made by a National Treasury official rushing to meet a Cabinet deadline.

Bitok revealed that Sh12.5 billion for exams and invigilation, Sh1.8 billion and Sh21.85 billion for free primary and secondary school capitation, respectively, were excluded from the budget.

This means crucial assessments like the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment, Kenya Junior School Education Assessment, and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams will face challenges.

Additional funds cut include Sh18.8 billion for junior school capitation and Sh4.2 billion for the school feeding program. The budget also allocated no money for quality assurance.

Despite the cuts, the Teachers Service Commission has been allocated Sh387.7 billion, which includes funds to hire 24,000 teachers in January.

President William Ruto said the government has hired 76,000 teachers in the past two years—the highest number ever.

He promised that trained P1 teachers who have been unemployed for up to 20 years will be given priority in the next hiring cycle.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba revealed that 343,485 trained teachers remain unemployed, including 124,061 primary school teachers.

Outgoing TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia said there is a shortage of 98,261 teachers in public schools, although 229,410 teachers have been trained over the last decade.

The government is rolling out reforms recommended by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms.

The 8-4-4 system is being phased out and replaced with a Competency Based Education (CBE) system, formerly known as the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).

The reforms include the creation of Junior School (JS), replacing Junior Secondary School (JSS).

However, there is still debate on whether JS teachers fall under primary or secondary education, leading to disputes between Knut and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) over teacher membership.