New report warns austerity wrecking Kenya's education, health sectors

Mlolongo Primary pupils overcrowded as new report reveals strain on Kenya's education amid austerity. [File, Standard]

A new report warns that austerity measures driven by debt repayment priorities are pushing Kenya's public education and healthcare sectors into crisis.

The report, published by ActionAid International, shows how budget cuts have left schools and clinics severely underfunded.

Teachers and health workers say the conditions are worsening fast, with service delivery under threat.

Across Kenya, teachers are managing as many as 200 pupils in a single class. Many report struggling to survive on stagnant wages, while shortages of desks and learning materials are common. These conditions are undermining the quality of education.

Healthcare workers face similar challenges. Hospitals are overwhelmed with patients, yet lack the resources needed to meet demand.

Staff say that in many cases, care is delayed or denied altogether due to overcrowding and stockouts.

"The situation is deteriorating fast," said Samson Orao, Interim Executive Director of ActionAid Kenya, adding, "Essential services are being gutted to make room for debt repayments, and that is hurting schools and clinics."

The report links the crisis to austerity policies encouraged by international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund.

It argues that these measures have forced the government to cut spending at the cost of basic services.

Girls are especially affected. When families face financial hardship, they are often the first to be pulled out of school.

In health facilities, vulnerable groups face the greatest barriers to timely treatment.

According to the report, Kenya is spending more on debt servicing than on health or education. It warns that this trend is unsustainable and risks deepening inequality across the country.

The report calls for urgent policy changes to protect and strengthen essential services. It recommends exploring debt relief, expanding fair tax measures, and investing more in the people who provide education and healthcare.