Education

UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga confirmed that the unions had accepted a two-phase payment plan, to be completed by June 2026.

Tunza Mtoto Coalition is demanding that within seven days, the Ministry publish the complete verification report on ghost students, disclose the names of implicated schools and the magnitude of enrolment discrepancies identified.

Schools must also issue clear fee structures at the start of the academic year, designate official payment channels, provide receipts and may allow instalment payments for parents.

The council stressed that collection will only be allowed for institutions that have cleared all pending examination fees.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said all measures had been put in place to guarantee a smooth and credible examination process despite the ongoing short rains affecting several regions.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said multi-agency teams are already on the ground assessing the situation and making arrangements to relocate affected learners.

The university administration has appealed for patience and cooperation, promising to resume academic activities promptly once normal operations can continue.

Despite the restrictions, governors argue that counties are best positioned to understand the needs of local students and should be allowed greater control.

On the contentious 2017-21 arrears, unions initially cited Sh7.94 billion, while the Salaries and Remuneration Commission placed the figure at Sh624 million.

Under the plan, Sh2.16 billion will be paid out in the 2025-26 financial year. This will be followed by two equal instalments of Sh2.80 billion in 2026-27 and 2027-28.

Results for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) will be released from December, while KCSE results are expected in January 2026.

Thousands of current and former TUK employees risk losing their life savings amid allegations of negligence and fund misuse.

The programme aims to upgrade over 600 learning institutions, offer 10,000 scholarships, and provide digital skilling for teachers across the country by 2030.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna condemned what he termed the “persistent and systemic non-payment” of allowances to teachers, saying the delays have deeply demoralised the teaching workforce.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba explained that the change is designed to reduce pressure and unhealthy competition among young learners.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba told the National Assembly’s Education Committee that KNEC’s approved budget for the 2024/25 financial year allocated Sh5.9 billion for national assessments and examinations.

Education CS Julius Ogamba said the affected schools are newly established and are being assessed before funds can be disbursed.

noted that the government had made adequate preparations to ensure all national examinations run smoothly and are released on schedule.

The centre, based at the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, brings together personnel from the security agencies, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of ICT, and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).

PS Omollo explained that the Interior Ministry is working closely with the Education Ministry to provide security and logistical support.

Ogamba noted that the government will not fund reconstructions, stressing that all costs must be borne by parents and school administrations to prevent future disruptions

Education PS Julius Bitok says all missing papers have been replaced, exams are running smoothly, and new smart digital padlocks are securing KJSEA containers nationwide.

A verification exercise conducted across 91 public institutions has so far unearthed 1,208 forged certificates from a sample of 53,000 cases submitted to the Kenya National Resources Region Council.

The event, held in Mwatate Sub-county, recognised outstanding ECDE teachers for their commitment to nurturing young learners, honoured retirees for their years of service, and underscored the county’s efforts to strengthen the foundation of education.

The bench, appointed by Chief Justice Martha Koome, will determine whether counties have overstepped their constitutional mandate in disbursing education funds.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the locks, being piloted for the first time, are linked to the KNEC command centre, allowing officials to monitor in real time whenever a container is opened or closed.

The warning comes as KNEC raised an alarm over the rampant use of Telegram channels to leak examination papers during the ongoing tests.

According to KNEC CEO David Njengere, approximately 3.4 million learners will be sitting for the KPSEA, KJSEA, and KCSE exams this year.

UASU and KUSU maintain that no negotiations will take place unless the government first pays the full amount and signs a binding return-to-work formula.

Lecturers have rejected a Sh3.1 billion counter-offer proposed by SRC and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), calling it inadequate and out of touch with current economic realities.

The 39 petitioners argue that the arrangement diminishes their professional status, noting that most are permanently employed and trained to teach secondary-level subjects.

In a letter dated October 21 to SRC Acting Secretary and CEO Margaret Njoka, UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga said the union had declined the counteroffer and was appealing the guidelines issued by the commission earlier this month.

The AI-driven system is designed to promote equity and fairness by ensuring that all learners, regardless of their location, get equal chances of joining top institutions.

The Technical University of Kenya began its own protest after issuing interdiction letters to more than 40 academic staff participating in the strike. As protest songs reverberated across campuses, lecture halls remained empty for the 34th consecutive day.

According to the Ministry of Education, the revised fees will vary based on the chosen learning pathways and school categories under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

So far, the government has released Sh22.1 billion in capitation funds to public primary and secondary schools. However, some institutions remain unable to access the money as audits to detect alleged fraud continue.

The tests will commence with oral papers for foreign and sign languages including French, German, Arabic and Kenyan Sign Language, before practical examinations begin on October 22 and run through to October 31. Written papers will follow from November 4 to November 21.

In his interim ruling, Justice Joseph Sergon urged both parties to find a practical compromise that would allow students to return to class as the case proceeds.

In a circular dated October 16, 2025, and addressed to all teachers, the Commission announced that the affected interviews will now take place between Tuesday, October 21, and Thursday, October 23, 2025.

The report recommends urgent talks between the Ministry of Education, SRC, and university councils to reconcile figures and find resources to settle the Sh7.7 billion balance.

Senior officials at the Ministry of Education confirmed on Thursday that the exercise will not be postponed, saying any alteration would interfere with the national examination calendar.

Justice Joseph Sergon of the High Court, however, declined to grant temporary orders compelling the school to reopen.

The MPs raised concerns that some schools receive excess books while others have none, questioning the Institute’s handling of its Sh1.18 billion budget for the 2024/2025 financial year.

Technical University of Kenya Vice Chancellor Benedict Mutua confirmed that his institution has already taken disciplinary action.

PS Mang’eni explained that the application process was conducted digitally through the Hustler Fund platform, using the zero-rated code *254#, to ensure equal access for all young people, including those using basic feature phones.

The legislators expressed concern that, despite assurances from the Ministry of Education, schools are still struggling to access essential funds needed for operations ahead of national examinations.

Union leaders walked out of the meeting, accusing the government of failing to honour commitments on outstanding salary arrears under the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).

The first term will begin on January 5, 2026, and run for 13 weeks, ending on April 2, 2026. Learners will enjoy a half-term break from February 25 to March 1 before completing the term.

The compliance audit, which sampled eight universities, found that the institutions held unclaimed financial assets in the form of caution money and overpaid fees.

MPs expressed concern that with only two weeks left before the end of the third term, many schools had not received government disbursements, severely disrupting operations.

The 2026 rankings evaluated 2,191 institutions from 115 countries, focusing on the quality of teaching, research excellence, international outlook, and engagement with industry and society.