HomeJCARM Vol 1, Issue 6 Article
Original Research Article

Economics and Planning of Education in Kenya: Policy, Resource Allocation, and Equity Considerations.

Joash Ojwang Awuor

Click an author's name to view their details

Joash Ojwang Awuor Corresponding Author

Independent Researcher, Kenya.

Correspondence: editor@ivoryandfinch.com

Received
21 Jul 2026
Published
10 Aug 2026

Abstract

This paper examines the economics and planning of Kenya's education system, with an emphasis on policy frameworks, financing strategies, enrollment dynamics, and equity challenges in achieving sustainable and inclusive educational outcomes. It analyzes the impact of significant reforms, including the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) introduced in 2017 and the expansion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), in aligning education with Kenya's Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4). Drawing on national statistics, county-level case studies (e.g., Uasin Gishu's TVET model and Turkana's mobile schools), and global best practices, the study highlights persistent challenges such as regional disparities, inadequate financing (e.g., KES 1,420 per primary student under FPE), and infrastructural deficits, particularly in ASAL regions where secondary enrolment rates range from 20–50% compared to the national 70% (KNBS, 2023). It proposes a multifaceted approach to enhance efficiency and equity, including data-driven planning via the Education Management Information System (EMIS), county-specific interventions, performance-based financing modeled on Rwanda's success, and public-private partnerships to bridge funding gaps. Additional recommendations include scaling teacher training (only 60% of teachers are CBC-trained as of 2024), increasing capitation grants by 20% in high-need areas, and strengthening community engagement to address cultural barriers, such as early marriage. These strategies aim to optimize resource allocation, reduce disparities, and ensure education drives Kenya's socioeconomic development.

Keywords: Education Economics, Policy Frameworks, Competency-Based Curriculum, Resource Allocation, Educational Equity.

How to Cite

APA

Awuor, J. O. (2026). Economics and Planning of Education in Kenya: Policy, Resource Allocation, and Equity Considerations.. Journal of Contemporary Academic Research and Methodologies, 1(6). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21860372

MLA

Awuor, Joash Ojwang. "Economics and Planning of Education in Kenya: Policy, Resource Allocation, and Equity Considerations.." Journal of Contemporary Academic Research and Methodologies, vol. 1, no. 6, 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21860372

Chicago

Awuor, Joash Ojwang. "Economics and Planning of Education in Kenya: Policy, Resource Allocation, and Equity Considerations.." Journal of Contemporary Academic Research and Methodologies 1, no. 6 (2026). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21860372

References

Al-Samarrai and Zaman. (2024). Samer Al-Samarrai | Senior Economist. World Bank Blogs. https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/team/s/samer-al-samarrai Banathy. (1991). Systems Design of Education: A Journey to Create the Future. Educational Technology Publications. Systemic Practice and Action Research, 17(4), 253–263. https://doi.org/10.1023/b:spaa.0000040646.93483.22 Becker, G. S. (1964, January). Human Capital: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis with Special Reference to Education, First Edition. Www.nber.org; NBER. https://www.nber.org/books-and-chapters/human-capital-theoretical-and-empirical-analysis-special-reference-education-first-edition Cheruiyot, B. (2024). Challenges Faced in the Implementation of Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in Junior Schools in Kenya. East African Journal of Education Studies, 7(3), 260–266. https://doi.org/10.37284/eajes.7.3.2098 Coleman, J. S. (1988). Social Capital in the Creation of Human Capital. American Journal of Sociology, 94(1), 95–120. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2780243 Glennerster, R., Kremer, M., Mbiti, I., & Takavarasha, K. (2011). Access and Quality in the Kenyan Education System: A Review of the Progress, Challenges, and Potential Solutions Office of the Prime Minister of Kenya In Collaboration with The Abdul Latif Poverty Action Lab at MIT (J-PAL) and Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA). https://www.povertyactionlab.org/sites/default/files/research-paper/Access%20and%20Quality%20in%20the%20Kenyan%20Education%20System%202011.06.22.pdf GPE. (2023). Results Report 2023 | Documents | Global Partnership for Education. Www.globalpartnership.org. https://www.globalpartnership.org/content/results-report-2023 KICD. (2025). BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK: Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development. Kicd.ac.ke. https://kicd.ac.ke/downloads/basic-education-curriculum-framework/ KNBS. (2023). PROVIDING, MANAGING AND PROMOTING QUALITY STATISTICS Providing, Managing and Promoting Quality Statistics. https://www.knbs.or.ke/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-Economic-Survey.pdf Lewin, K. (2007). Consortium for Research on Educational Access, Transitions and Equity Improving Access, Equity and Transitions in Education: Creating a Research Agenda. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED508613.pdf Majgaard, K., & Mingat, A. (2020). A W O R L D B A N K S T U D Y A C O M P A R AT I V E A N A LY S I S. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/892631468003571777/pdf/709790PUB0EPI0067926B09780821388891.pdf Ministry of Education. (2024). Republic of Kenya Republic of Kenya Education Sector Working Group Outline of Presentation. https://newsite.treasury.go.ke/sites/default/files/Sector%202024-2025/EDUCATION-SECTOR-REPORT-FY-2024-25-2026-27.pdf Muralidharan, K., & Niehaus, P. (2017). Experimentation at Scale. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(4), 103–124. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.31.4.103 Oketch, M., & Ngware, M. (2012). Free primary education still excludes the poorest of the poor in urban Kenya. Development in Practice, 20(4-5), 603–610. https://doi.org/10.1080/09614521003763095 Psacharopoulos, G., & Patrinos, H. A. (2018). Returns To Investment in Education: A Decennial Review of the Global Literature. Education Economics, 26(5), 445–458. https://doi.org/10.1080/09645292.2018.1484426 Rawls, J. (1971). A THEORY OF JUSTICE. Harvard University Press. https://www.hup.harvard.edu/file/feeds/PDF/9780674000780_sample.pdf Republic of Kenya. (2007). Kenya Vision 2030 A Globally Competitive and Prosperous Kenya. https://www.pfmr.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Kenya_Vision_2030_-_2007.pdf Republic of Kenya. (2010). THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA, 2010. https://www.parliament.go.ke/sites/default/files/2023-03/The_Constitution_of_Kenya_2010.pdf Republic of Kenya. (2012). EDUCATION ACT CHAPTER 211. http://www.kenyalaw.org/kl/fileadmin/pdfdownloads/Acts/EducationActCap211.pdf Republic of Kenya. (2014). PRESS RELEASE A POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING: REFORMING EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN KENYA. https://www.education.go.ke/sites/default/files/2022-05/policy-framework-for-education-training.pdf Republic of Kenya. (2015). NATIONAL EDUCATION SECTOR STRATEGIC PLAN. https://www.education.go.ke/sites/default/files/Docs/MOE-NESSP%20BOOKLET%20TEXT%20combined%20%20with%20cover%202019%20(1).pdf Republic of Kenya. (2019a). Parliament of Kenya | The Kenyan Parliament Website. Parliament.go.ke. https://parliament.go.ke/sites/default/files/2019-09/Report%20on%20Sessional%20Paper%20No.%201%20of%202019%20on%20Policy%20Framework%20for%20Reforming%20Education%20and%20Training%20for%20Sustainable%20Development.pdf Republic of Kenya. (2019b). Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2019: A Policy Framework for Reforming Education and Training for Sustainable Development in Kenya. Government Printer, Nairobi. https://www.education.go.ke/sites/default/files/2022-05/policy-framework-for-education-training.pdf UNESCO. (2015, April 19). INTERVIEW WITH AARON BENAVOT, DIRECTOR OF THE EDUCATION FOR ALL GLOBAL MONITORING REPORT 2015. Unesco.org. https://www.unesco.org/gem-report/en/publication/education-all-2000-2015-achievements-and-challenges UNESCO. (2020). Gender equality and education. Www.unesco.org. https://www.unesco.org/en/gender-equality/education
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Free to read, share, and adapt with attribution.

Article Access
↓ Download PDF
26
Views
18
Downloads
Metadata
ISSN 3139-7247
Tracking ID JCARM_JUL_26_090
Article No. 035
↓ Download JATS XML
Article Info
Journal JCARM
Volume Vol 1, No 6
Year 2026
Type Original Research Article
Licence CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Share