Education

Mbadi noted that the allocation also marks a notable rise from the Sh526 billion allocated before President William Ruto’s administration took office, reflecting an increase of about 49 per cent.

Ogamba noted that the second term is traditionally the longest in the academic year, a situation the Ministry now wants to address through restructuring.

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba said 204 schools (representing 2 per cent) have so far been affected, with most cases reported in boarding senior schools.

He noted that nine suspects have already been charged and are currently in custody. He expressed condolences to the families of the 16 learners who died and wished those injured a quick recovery.

Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) has raised concern over the crisis, which it says has persisted for over two weeks and has now led to the closure of several schools across the region.

PS Bitok says schools should engage learners and consider delaying mock examinations to ease tensions as student unrest affects about 80 secondary schools nationwide.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has directed schools to increase the number of teachers on duty, especially during evening preps and in dormitories, while improving communication between administrators and learners.

The support will also cover funeral-related expenses, including mortuary charges, coffins, transportation of the deceased and the requiem mass that will be held at Utumishi Girls Academy on a date to be communicated. 

KMTC noted that applicants who do not receive any communication should consider their requests unsuccessful due to a lack of available slots.

The recent wave of unrest has raised concern among stakeholders, even as authorities insist that the situation remains contained to a small number of affected schools.

Parents of 165 Ambira High students have moved to court challenging a directive requiring Grade 10 learners to pay Sh33,000 for strike-related damages, arguing the levy is unlawful and has denied learners access to education.

Bitok emphasised that learners should not be subjected to examinations when they are not adequately prepared, arguing that such pressure could worsen anxiety and contribute to disruptions in schools.

PS Bitok said unrest is being contained through enhanced dialogue with learners and a nationwide audit of safety standards.

In a statement to parents, Principal David Chomba assured them that all students remained safe under the school's care and that the fire had not affected learning facilities.

The petition comes amid growing concern over insecurity and unrest in secondary schools, with several institutions reporting fire incidents and abrupt closures.

Ahmed noted that Wajir County had already taken steps to support Madrasa education through county-led initiatives aimed at strengthening the sector and ensuring that learners enrolled in religious education programmes received support.

The ranking reflects the university’s performance in teaching, research and graduate outcomes, highlighting the strength of its academic community and growing competitiveness on the global stage.

During debate on a motion in the National Assembly, legislators questioned the safety of the current school system, linking the repeated incidents to overcrowding in schools and rising pressure on learning facilities.

KNEC also outlined key timelines for coursework, practicals and examinations across the three series, covering assessment submission, practical instruction collection, planning sessions and examination periods.

According to the Association’s proposals, as recommended by Dr Tuesday Gichuki, each dormitory must have at least two independent exits located apart from each other, with all exit doors opening outwards.

KRC said it responded to a fire at Tarakwo High School on Monday night, marking the fifth school fire incident since the tragic Utumishi Girls Academy fire that left 16 girls dead.

The National Assembly Education Committee noted that the allocation to student-centred areas such as capitation, loans and scholarships remains insufficient, despite being key to supporting learners across universities and TVET institutions.

According to the fund’s CEO, Geoffrey Monari, the proposal under discussion with the World Bank aims to securitise HELB’s repayments and attract investors to support predictable funding for students in universities and TVET institutions.

Education PS Julius Bitok says all boarding schools will undergo safety inspections within 10 days as investigations into the Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory fire that killed 16 students continue.

Ruto said the move will ensure every child has a recognised pathway to learning regardless of their background or circumstances.

President Ruto's remarks come after a series of fire incidents that have shocked the country in recent weeks, with several schools affected during the second term period of learning, raising concern over safety in boarding institutions.

The Architects Alliance (TAA) pointed to inadequate or inaccessible escape routes, poor ventilation strategies, overcrowding and unsafe electrical installations as some of the major concerns affecting school safety.

The Chief Justice said no parent should have to endure the pain of losing a child and urged the country to stand in solidarity with the affected families.

The report indicates the teachers failed to take appropriate action before the May 28 dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 16 students and left 79 others with injuries of varying degrees.

The cause of the fire had not yet been established, with county officials saying investigations and a full assessment would be conducted once the situation was brought under control.

Since the 1990s, a breakdown by The Eastleigh Voice shows more than 160 students have lost their lives in similar incidents, exposing persistent gaps in safety enforcement despite repeated reforms, inquiries and policy promises aimed at preventing such tragedies.

The civil society group said the Gilgil tragedy highlights a continuing pattern of preventable disasters in Kenyan boarding schools and raises urgent questions about the enforcement of safety regulations.

Investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have since been deployed to process the scene, while parents have been urged to use hotline 1199 for updates, reporting and counselling support.

The President said the government’s immediate focus was on rescue efforts, treatment of the injured and support for affected families as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.

Preliminary estimates indicate that about 16 students may have died, while an unknown number of injured students were rushed to different medical facilities with varying degrees of injuries.

The Committee further noted that there is currently no budget allocation for group life insurance, group personal accident cover and Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA) protection for teachers, which would require about Sh5.3 billion.

According to the emergency response team, the blaze was reported at around 3:30 am, prompting a swift deployment of rescue personnel to the school in Gilgil.

When opening the forum, President William Ruto challenged stakeholders to address the rising cost of uniforms, saying it continues to lock out learners from disadvantaged backgrounds and undermine equal access to education.

During the report's launch in Nairobi, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba acknowledged the concerns raised and reiterated the government’s commitment to improving the teachers' welfare.

The 12 suspects are expected to be formally arraigned at the Bondo Law Courts on Tuesday on arson-related charges after a court granted police temporary custody to complete investigations.

Kisire is an experienced human resources professional with a career spanning both the public and private sectors.

KUPPET maintains that the delay in payment amounts to a violation of labour rights and undermines trust in government commitments.

Acting appointments are often made when substantive office holders retire, are transferred, or when schools are awaiting formal promotions from the Commission.

In many African countries, examinations such as the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and Kenya’s National Secondary School Exams exert strong pressure on teachers.

The audit also raised red flags over land records, revealing that most of the commission’s property lacks proper documentation. Out of nine parcels of land owned by TSC across the country, the report shows that only one has a title deed.

The Transport Alliance umbrella, including matatu operators and members of the Truckers Association of Kenya, called for a nationwide transport strike scheduled for Monday, May 18, 2026, in response to recent fuel price increases.

The disbursement is part of efforts to settle long-standing payments under the 2017/2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) affecting both lecturers and non-teaching staff.

KUPPET has escalated its push for urgent reforms at the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), accusing the agency of ignoring persistent concerns affecting thousands of educators.

KUCCPS said the move is intended to ensure that all qualified candidates are given a fair chance to secure admission into universities and colleges across the country.

Founded in 1956, Thika High School has grown into one of Kenya’s leading national schools offering all three Competency-Based Education pathways and serving close to 2,000 students drawn from every part of the country.