The budget allocated to the Ministry of Education in Kenya is projected to experience a modest reduction despite a continuing increase in student enrolment across educational institutions, as indicated by the 2025 Economic Survey published by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
According to the report, total government expenditure on education and training is anticipated to decrease from KSh 601.5 billion in the 2023/24 fiscal year to KSh 594.2 billion in 2024/25. Recurrent expenditure, primarily allocated for salaries and operational costs, is expected to decline by 1.7 percent to KSh 566.1 billion. Conversely, development expenditure is forecasted to rise by 9.8 percent to KSh 28.1 billion.
The report states, “Total expenditure for the education sector is expected to decline from KSh 601.5 billion in 2023/24 to KSh 594.2 billion in 2024/25. Total recurrent expenditure is expected to decrease by 1.7 percent to KSh 566.1 billion in 2024/25, accounting for 95.3 percent of the total expenditure for the education sector.”
Furthermore, the report highlights a varied outlook for different departments within the sector regarding their development budget allocations. The Teachers Service Commission is projected to see its development budget increase from KSh 334.7 billion to KSh 346.8 billion. Additionally, recurrent expenditure for the Teachers Service Commission is expected to rise by 3.6 percent to KSh 346.8 billion in 2024/25, representing 61.3 percent of the total recurrent expenditure for the education sector.
Basic Education is allocated KSh 115.9 billion, reflecting a 7.1 percent increase from the previous fiscal year, and constitutes 74.6 percent of the sector’s total development budget. In contrast, the State Department for Vocational and Technical Training is facing an 8.5 percent reduction, with an allocation of KSh 23.1 billion for the upcoming fiscal year.
Despite these budgetary fluctuations, the education sector has witnessed significant growth in both infrastructure and enrolment. The number of basic learning institutions has increased by 38.8 percent, reaching 129,463 in 2024, largely due to the incorporation of junior schools, which now account for nearly one-quarter of all such institutions.
The number of pre-primary schools rose by 1.8 percent to 47,760, while primary schools increased by 9.6 percent to 38,997. The number of secondary schools experienced a slight increase to 10,755. “TVET institutions grew by 6.9 percent to 2,756 in 2024, partly due to an increase in the number of accredited vocational training centres. The total number of universities rose from 70 in 2023 to 72 in 2024 following the awarding of charters to the National Intelligence Research University and Tangaza University,” the report noted.
Enrolment trends reflected the expansion of infrastructure. Pre-primary enrolment increased from 2.89 million to 2.91 million learners. Enrolment in primary and junior schools rose by 3.2 percent to 10.73 million, while secondary school enrolment increased by 5.2 percent to 4.32 million. Enrolment in TVET institutions also surged by 10.4 percent to 709,885 students.
University enrolment is expected to grow from 579,000 in 2023/24 to 629,100 in 2024/25. The number of candidates registered for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education increased by 6.9 percent to 965,172. Additionally, the number of Grade 6 learners registered for the KPSEA assessment rose by 2.5 percent to 1.31 million, with those sitting for the exam increasing by 5.5 percent.
However, the number of teachers in public primary schools declined by 3.2 percent to 212,602, a decrease attributed to factors such as retirement, disciplinary actions, study leave, and natural attrition. In contrast, the number of teachers in public secondary schools and teacher training colleges increased to 130,818, up from 125,563 the previous year.
In terms of funding, the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) significantly increased its support for university students, with HELB loans rising by 59.5 percent to KSh 46.9 billion. Funding under the New Funding Model increased from KSh 17.9 billion in 2023/24 to KSh 20.9 billion in 2024/25. However, allocations to universities through the Universities Fund sharply declined from KSh 30.0 billion to KSh 12.9 billion.
“The figures are decreasing because we previously had tuition fees allocated directly to universities, which is now changing. The new model provides funds directly to students,” stated KNBS Director General McDonald Obudho during the report’s launch.
Obudho also addressed related national statistics, noting that the health sector received increased allocations for counties, yet only 44.8 percent of births were registered in 2024, indicating significant gaps in civil registration. He further highlighted improvements in national security, evidenced by a reduction in reported crime cases, although he expressed concern regarding the declining police-to-population ratio, which now stands at one officer per 512 individuals.
