Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended his controversial remarks regarding the government's inability to fully fund free primary and secondary education, citing budgetary limitations. He clarified that while education is a priority, current financial resources cannot cover the full cost per student, a fact he claims some leaders ignore.

• Full annual capitation per student in senior secondary schools is Ksh.22,000, but the government consistently disburses a lower amount, around Ksh.17,000 per student for Term One and Term Two this year.
• Mbadi attributes the shortfall partly to Parliament, claiming MPs reduced the capitation budget further in the latest financial year.
• He proposed reallocating 40% of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) bursaries, amounting to approximately Ksh.21 billion, to bridge the Ksh.5,000 per student capitation deficit.
• Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok later clarified that free education policies remain unchanged, reassuring the public despite widespread concerns sparked by Mbadi’s remarks.