Lawyer and political analyst Fanya Mambo Kinuthia has accused the government of failing to account for a reported USD 180 million (about Sh27 billion) World Bank grant meant to support Kenya’s transition from Grade 9 to Grade 10, raising fresh questions over transparency in the education sector.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Generation, Kinuthia said the funding details are publicly available on the World Bank’s official website and were explicitly tied to easing the rollout of the new education structure.
“If you look at the World Bank official website today, it is right there. Kenya received 180 million US dollars, which is actually about 27 billion,” he said on Monday, adding that the funds were approved in December 2025.
According to Kinuthia, the agreement clearly outlined how the money was to be used, including payment of school fees, provision of uniforms, and construction of at least one classroom in every school receiving Grade 10 learners.
“It is written there in that agreement that this money was meant to help with school fees for the children, school uniform, and at least one classroom in every school for Grade 10,” he said.
However, he questioned why, just weeks later in January 2026, an estimated 800,000 learners were reportedly stranded at home during the first Grade 10 transition.
“Fast forward to January 2026, we are having the first Grade 10 transition and 800,000 children are at home. You remember the newspaper headlines,” Kinuthia noted.
He further challenged the government’s commitment to using the funds for their stated purpose, citing remarks made by President William Ruto during a visit to Meru County.
Kinuthia recalled the President urging schools to admit learners regardless of uniforms or books and later stating that parents would pay once they had money.
“He said, ‘take the children back to school whether they have uniform or not,’ and then finished by saying ‘wazazi wakipata pesa,’” Kinuthia said. “That shows there was no intention of using the World Bank money to pay school fees.”
Kinuthia also warned the World Bank against releasing a second tranche of about USD 230.8 million (approximately Sh38 billion) without public consultation.
“Before you disburse the other money, can you please come and ask us as Kenyans whether the first one was used?” he said.
He questioned whether any classrooms had been built or uniforms distributed using the funds, arguing that silence from authorities had only deepened public suspicion.
“Are there children who have received uniform? Is there any classroom that has been built? That is the conversation they are avoiding,” Kinuthia said, calling for accountability and transparency over the disputed billions.
