A total of 883 schools across Kenya are staring at a financial crisis after it emerged they submitted data in the wrong format to the Ministry of Education. This mistake puts them at risk of missing out on government capitation funds, which are critical in running day-to-day school operations.
The Ministry of Education has made it clear: unless these institutions re-submit their data using the correct templates, they will not receive capitation. The affected schools spread across all 46 counties and include 150 Junior Secondary Schools (JSS), 370 primary schools, and 363 secondary schools.
Why Schools Risk Losing Capitation
According to the ministry, several schools provided inaccurate learner assessment numbers, incorrect NEMIS UIC codes, and wrong enrolment figures. Others failed to use the official data capture templates, leading to rejection of their submissions.
Capitation funds are the financial lifeline for most schools. Without them, schools will struggle to buy learning materials, maintain facilities, pay utility bills, and support extracurricular activities. This has left headteachers, principals, and parents worried about how institutions will cope if the funds are withheld.
Counties With the Most Schools Affected
Some counties reported alarmingly high numbers of affected schools:
- Kericho – 55 schools
- Nandi – 54 schools
- Kisii – 52 schools
- Makueni – 48 schools
- West Pokot – 47 schools
- Machakos – 44 schools
- Homa Bay – 42 schools
- Nakuru – 42 schools
Meanwhile, other counties like Nairobi City (1 school), Wajir (5 schools), and Lamu (6 schools) reported very low numbers of institutions affected.
Full List of Affected Schools by County
Below is the comprehensive county summary showing the number of schools that submitted wrong data across Junior Secondary, Primary, and Secondary levels.
| S/No | County/Sub-County | Junior Secondary | Primary | Secondary | Grand Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baringo | 2 | 14 | 0 | 16 |
| 2 | Bomet | 0 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 3 | Bungoma | 4 | 14 | 16 | 34 |
| 4 | Busia | 4 | 1 | 15 | 20 |
| 5 | Elgeyo/Marakwet | 5 | 4 | 0 | 9 |
| 6 | Embu | 0 | 3 | 10 | 13 |
| 7 | Homa Bay | 2 | 3 | 37 | 42 |
| 8 | Isiolo | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | Kajiado | 3 | 12 | 14 | 29 |
| 10 | Kakamega | 13 | 14 | 0 | 27 |
| 11 | Kericho | 2 | 16 | 37 | 55 |
| 12 | Kiambu | 4 | 5 | 0 | 9 |
| 13 | Kilifi | 5 | 3 | 20 | 28 |
| 14 | Kirinyaga | 0 | 3 | 18 | 21 |
| 15 | Kisii | 6 | 45 | 1 | 52 |
| 16 | Kisumu | 5 | 11 | 13 | 29 |
| 17 | Kitui | 11 | 7 | 0 | 18 |
| 18 | Kwale | 2 | 1 | 8 | 11 |
| 19 | Laikipia | 1 | 12 | 18 | 31 |
| 20 | Lamu | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 21 | Machakos | 2 | 11 | 30 | 44 |
| 22 | Makueni | 4 | 11 | 33 | 48 |
| 23 | Mandera | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 24 | Marsabit | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 25 | Meru | 10 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| 26 | Migori | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 27 | Mombasa | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| 28 | Murang’a | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 29 | Nairobi City | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | Nakuru | 3 | 2 | 37 | 42 |
| 31 | Nandi | 8 | 9 | 37 | 54 |
| 32 | Narok | 7 | 5 | 0 | 12 |
| 33 | Nyamira | 2 | 14 | 3 | 19 |
| 34 | Nyandarua | 2 | 11 | 0 | 13 |
| 35 | Nyeri | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| 36 | Samburu | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 37 | Siaya | 5 | 16 | 0 | 21 |
| 38 | Taita/Taveta | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 39 | Tana River | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| 40 | Tharaka-Nithi | 2 | 8 | 0 | 10 |
| 41 | Trans Nzoia | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| 42 | Turkana | 0 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| 43 | Uasin Gishu | 3 | 8 | 0 | 11 |
| 44 | Vihiga | 3 | 2 | 8 | 13 |
| 45 | Wajir | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| 46 | West Pokot | 1 | 46 | 0 | 47 |
| Total | All Counties | 150 | 370 | 363 | 883 |
What This Means for Schools
If the listed schools do not correct their submissions, they will face funding delays or complete exclusion from the next disbursement of government funds. This could disrupt learning in already struggling institutions, particularly in rural areas where parents cannot afford additional levies.
Education experts argue that schools must invest in capacity building for administrators to ensure data is captured accurately. The Ministry of Education is also urged to provide training and simplified digital tools to reduce mistakes in future submissions.
Conclusion
The revelation that 883 schools across Kenya submitted wrong data is a wake-up call for administrators. With capitation funds hanging in the balance, these schools must act fast to re-submit accurate information through NEMIS-approved templates.
Counties such as Kericho, Kisii, Makueni, West Pokot, and Nandi top the list of offenders, while Nairobi City, Wajir, and Lamu reported the lowest numbers.
If schools fail to comply, learners will be the biggest losers, facing shortages in learning materials, strained resources, and disrupted education.
