President William Ruto has directed that all learners across the country must report to school starting Friday, regardless of whether they have school fees, uniforms, or other financial requirements. Speaking in Meru County during the disbursement of funds under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) business support programme, the President said no child should be locked out of education due to poverty. He instructed chiefs, assistant chiefs, and other provincial administration officers to ensure full compliance with the directive. According to President Ruto, the government has already released Ksh 44 billion in education capitation, which should cover the cost of teaching learners during the first term.
There is enough money for our children to be taught this first term. Every child, whether they have a uniform or school fees or not, must report to school tomorrow morning
Presitent RutoHe emphasized that education is a constitutional right and warned against denying learners access to school over financial challenges. The Head of State further urged local administrators to actively follow up on children who have not yet reported. The President also addressed concerns surrounding the transition from primary school to junior secondary school under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), stating that financial difficulties should not disrupt the process. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring a smooth and inclusive transition for all learners.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education revealed that as of Wednesday, January 22, more than 930,000 learners who sat for the 2025 Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) had reported to school, out of the 1.13 million candidates who were registered. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the ministry has deployed teams across the country to trace learners who are yet to report and address the challenges preventing them from resuming classes.
