Using digital tech for school capitation reduces abuse and diversion, says Mudavadi

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi/OPCS

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has defended the government’s move to digitise the capitation process for schools.

He said the move is aimed at streamlining the disbursement of funds and improving transparency and efficiency.

Mudavadi noted that once the process is complete, it will help closely monitor the flow and utilisation of funds disbursed to schools across the country.

“We have reports of funds meant for capitation being misappropriated in certain circumstances, with the dailies reporting an estimated Sh2 billion having been misused,” Mudavadi regretted.

He said officials in the education sector, like in other sectors, must be accountable, adding that the government is putting in place structures to monitor every cent, down to the last person at the lowest level of the disbursement chain.

The Prime CS said the government, through collaboration between the Ministry of ICT and the Ministry of Education, will ensure the digitisation process is completed in good time.

“The government is putting in place a budget of around Sh600 billion to fund the education sector. We want to relook at the whole process of disbursement and audit where the Sh600 billion goes and what the funds support, because we want to organise it better,” noted Mudavadi.

“We also understand the difficulties our children in universities and other institutions of higher learning are facing. Many can’t even afford a meal. We are working to ensure that all deserving students can benefit from government support—and even afford to have a decent meal.”

The digitisation process involves transitioning from manual systems to digital platforms, potentially utilising the eCitizen portal and other digital payment systems.

“Na ndiyo mliona wengine wakati Rais alisema ‘let us digitise capitation’ wakaanza kupiga kelele kwa sababu wanataka manual, ndiyo waendelee kupora rasilimali zinazohitajika kwa wanafunzi wetu. We will not allow this. We must move forward, use technology, and ensure that resources reach the people who need them,” Mudavadi insisted.

He reiterated that going forward, public resources will only be used for their intended purposes.

The disbursement of funds to schools is usually done in three phases: 50 percent in Term One, 30 percent in Term Two, and 20 percent in Term Three.