In a significant move to ensure that all students have access to education, President William Ruto has directed that learners report to school starting Friday, regardless of their financial status or lack of school uniforms. Speaking in Meru during the disbursement of funds for the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) business support programme, the president emphasized that no child should be denied the opportunity to attend school due to school fees or uniform issues.
President Ruto’s directive comes as part of the government’s ongoing commitment to supporting the education sector. He confirmed that Ksh. 44 billion in capitation funds have been allocated to ensure that schools operate effectively in the first term. “There is sufficient money for our children to be taught in the first term, so every child, with or without uniform and school fees, should report to school tomorrow morning,” President Ruto stated. He further instructed all provincial administration officers, including chiefs and assistant chiefs, to facilitate the implementation of this directive.
The president also underscored the importance of a smooth transition under the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder the progress of students moving from primary to junior school. This announcement highlights the government’s focus on making education accessible to all students, irrespective of their economic background.
As of January 22, the Ministry of Education reported that over 930,000 students who sat for their 2025 Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) exams had already reported to school, out of a total of 1.13 million registered learners. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba added that teams have been deployed to track down and encourage students who have not yet returned to school.
This initiative, aimed at increasing enrollment and ensuring equal educational opportunities, comes as part of the government’s broader strategy to support education under the current administration’s policies.
