Ruto Shares Reason His Government Can’t Have Mwai Kibaki’s Free Education

File image of then DP William Ruto with former President Mwai Kibaki at the 81st celebration for the Japanese Emperor at Japan Ambassador's residence, Nairobi, on December 4, 2014.

President William Ruto explained that his administration cannot completely restore the free education model initiated by former President Mwai Kibaki due to constrained public finances and the potential disruption to educational institutions.

While speaking at the Nakuru ASK Showground on Friday, January 9th, the President stated that Kenya currently does not have the economic capacity to sustainably fund free education at all levels.

He warned that previous efforts to implement this without sufficient resources almost led to the collapse of universities.

The Kibaki administration is strongly linked with Kenya’s free education policy, having initiated Free Primary Education in 2003. This led to an immediate increase in school enrolment by over 1.5 million pupils.

The policy was subsequently extended to cover Free Day Secondary Education, greatly enhancing access to education and lowering dropout rates. However, it also imposed significant demands on government finances, infrastructure, and staffing.

“Education cannot be free for now because we do not have enough money to make it free. There was a time we said it would be free and universities almost closed because we could not afford it,” President Ruto said.

He added that the government’s focus is on growing the economy first to create fiscal space for broader social spending, including education.

Introducing his second point, the President stressed that until the economy expands, education financing must be shared among key stakeholders.

“When we grow the economy, then when we can afford to pay for everyone. For now, it has to be a partnership between the government, parents, and other stakeholders,” Ruto explained.

Former President Mwai Kibaki introduced free primary education in 2003 and later expanded the policy to include secondary education, dramatically increasing access to schooling nationwide.

However, Ruto said his administration cannot emulate that model today due to fiscal pressures and competing national priorities.

The remarks have reignited debate on education funding, with opposition leaders and education stakeholders offering differing views on whether the state should prioritise restoring fully free basic education despite economic constraints.

Rigathi Gachagua, leader of the Democratic Citizens Party (DCP) and former Deputy President, has pledged that if he becomes President, he would work to restore free primary and secondary education to levels similar to those under Kibaki’s administration.

“If elected President, I will ensure that free primary and secondary education is strengthened and sustained in a way that benefits every Kenyan child. Education is a right, and families must not be burdened by school costs,” Gachagua said in a recent rally.

Gachagua has also emphasised fairness in the education system, urging that placement into national schools must be merit-based to reward academic performance.

In contrast, Ndindi Nyoro, MP and former government supporter turned outspoken critic on policy inconsistencies, has defended free basic education as a constitutional right, warning that mixed policy signals undermine learners and parents.

“Free basic education must not be compromised through half-baked funding approaches. We must protect access for all children — not water it down because of short-term fiscal politics,” Nyoro said during a parliamentary briefing on education financing last month.

Under the current Ruto administration, education financing has relied on a cost-sharing model, including need-based student support and household contributions, particularly at the tertiary level.

This approach places undue financial burdens on families, while supporters say it reflects necessary economic realism.