President William Ruto has strongly responded to criticism from former Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i over the state of Kenya’s education sector.
Speaking on February 2, 2026, President Ruto said his administration inherited a broken education system and has been working to fix long-standing problems, including teacher shortages and delayed school funding.
“In 2022, capitation was low, there were not enough teachers, and the education programme was broken. We are fixing your mess,” Ruto said. “This month, capitation funds reached schools before learners resumed classes.”
The President revealed that his government has hired over 100,000 teachers to address staffing shortages in public schools.
He also noted that more than 21 universities were facing closure due to financial challenges before his administration stepped in to stabilize funding.
Ruto accused leaders in the opposition of spending too much time criticizing the government instead of presenting solutions to Kenyans. He said voters will judge leaders based on their performance and delivery, not political attacks.
The remarks come days after Matiang’i accused the current administration of mismanaging the education sector, claiming there is enough money to fund education but that resources are being lost through corruption.
As political debate around education intensifies, the issue is expected to remain central as the country moves toward the 2027 general elections.
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Politics