Kaiti MP Joshua Kimilu ( Second from Left) during the issuance of bursary Cheques at his Office on January 30, 2026. 
By Andrew Mbuva
Kaiti Member of Parliament Joshua Kimilu has sharply dismissed claims by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migosi that education in Kenya is now affordable to all parents, terming the remarks misleading and disconnected from the reality on the ground.
Speaking in his constituency on Friday during the issuance of bursaries, Kimilu said many parents are struggling to meet even basic household needs due to prolonged drought and food shortages, making school fees an unbearable burden for thousands of families.
The MP announced the disbursement of Ksh 30 million in bursaries to university and college students, following a consultative meeting with beneficiaries held in December. He also launched the application process for secondary school bursaries, saying the intervention was necessary to cushion parents under immense financial pressure.
Kimilu urged students in higher learning institutions to check the bursary portal, confirming that funds had already been credited, and said cheques would be issued to schools throughout the week to keep learners in class.
Kimilu further called on the national government to urgently release school capitation funds, warning that delays were forcing schools to send students home.
He noted that despite government calls for children to return to school, many learners in Kaiti remain at home due to unpaid fees. “Telling children to report to school without providing resources to schools is empty rhetoric,” he said, adding that timely capitation is essential for uninterrupted learning.
Rejecting the CS’s assertion that education is affordable, Kimilu cited encounters with children lacking proper clothing and parents with no means of support.
“It is untrue to say every parent can afford education,” he said. “The government must tell Kenyans the truth. Education remains the most powerful tool to fight poverty, and that is why we must ensure every deserving child stays in school.”
