Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich has said funds will be wired to schools before the end of the week.
Mr Rotich Tuesday attributed the delay in funds release to a late request from the Ministry of Education.
Earlier, Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said the government had released Sh36 billion for free primary and day secondary schooling.
Head teachers had expected to receive the money at the beginning of the term.
Those interviewed said they are struggling to pay suppliers, buy stationery and pay salaries for workers and teachers employed by boards of management.
“We received a request from the ministry just last week. We will be paying before the end of this week,” the CS was quoted by a local daily.
The government usually releases 50 per cent of the cash at the beginning of the school calendar. The amount given to a school depends on the population of the learners. Thirty per cent is wired in second term and the remaining in third term.
Last year, the government released Sh37 billion in the first term. Of the amount, Sh29.5 billion was for free day secondary school programmes and Sh7.5 billion for primary schools.
Mr Rotich did not say how much would be sent to schools.
Kenya Secondary School Heads Association chairman Kahi Indimuli said on Monday that public school principals cannot manage the large number of students without funds.
Principals, he said, had proposed to the ministry to base the first term disbursement on last year’s student figures to avoid disruptions.
Mr Indimuli said the figures would be reconciled later.
As he inspected the delivery of the new curriculum in Grade Two at Ngong Township Primary School in Kajiado County, Dr Kipsang said Sh30 billion had already been released for free day secondary education and Sh6 billion for primary schools.