Education

The committee was reviewing Auditor General reports on KLB’s financial statements covering the period between the 2018/19 and 2024/25 financial years when the issue of unpaid debts came up.

Celebrated on July 7 each year, the day honours Kiswahili as one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa and globally, with over 200 million speakers.

To access their placement results, students will be required to log into the KUCCPS portal using their KCSE index numbers to confirm the institutions and courses they have been assigned.

According to organisers, the Busia school serves children in a vulnerable fishing community affected by poverty, recurrent flooding, high HIV prevalence, orphanhood, early marriages and long-standing beliefs that have limited educational aspirations for young people.

In a statement posted on its official X account, KRC said the emergency operation was successfully concluded later that evening after all affected pupils had been stabilised.

Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Kiplagat Kotut said the institution's financial challenges stem from persistent budget deficits that have accumulated over the past 12 years.

Schools have been directed to verify and correct School-Based Assessment records for Grade 6 and Grade 9 learners by July 30 ahead of the 2026 KPSEA and KJSEA national examinations.

The committee, chaired by Luanda MP Dick Maungu, resolved to summon the former vice chancellors after members said Acting Vice Chancellor Prof John Okumu could not adequately respond to matters relating to decisions made before he assumed office.

Kigege compared KATTI to the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) and the Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association (KEPSHA), saying it provides coordination and consultation for TVET institutions.

Represented by lawyers Danstan Omari and Martina Swiga, the residents and school officials are calling on the Ministry of Education to intervene and retain the school as a public institution under government management.

Parents have also questioned why they should continue paying additional costs such as transport, uniforms and learning materials when public education is expected to be largely financed by the State.

The two had denied allegations that they unlawfully disclosed confidential KCSE examination material during the administration of the 2025 national examinations.

Those identified will be trained on-the-job during the assessment of the 2026 KCSE examination papers.

The increase saw education loans overtake borrowing for trade and other commercial activities, highlighting the growing pressure households face in meeting education costs.

The KICD boss said schools should not administer commercial assessments developed outside the national framework, adding that the CBE system focuses more on using assessments to support learning rather than simply measuring performance.

Teachers from the Nairobi Cosmopolitan Hub say acting TSC CEO Evaleen Mitei has transformed the commission through key reforms and are urging President William Ruto and the TSC Board to confirm her appointment permanently.

According to the TSC, the programme will become a mandatory requirement for teachers seeking renewal of their practising licences as part of efforts to professionalise the teaching service.

President William Ruto has urged students to shun violence, calling on parents to play a greater role in raising their children.

Teachers Service Commission Chairman Jamleck Muturi said unrest in schools is usually preceded by complaints that should be addressed before they escalate.

Ogamba said the team will conduct a detailed review of the growing crisis and recommend measures to strengthen relations among learners, teachers, parents and other stakeholders in learning institutions.

The learners, Nakuru County education officials say, will be temporarily housed in about 300 tents fitted with mattresses provided by the National Police Service (NPS) as the school awaits completion of a new dormitory currently under construction.

Under the new system, users are required to register on the official KNEC e-Certificate portal using an email address and complete a secure identity verification process.

At the centre of the ruling is the absence of a national database to track beneficiaries of bursaries and scholarships, a gap the court said has allowed duplication of funding while many deserving students continue to miss out.

Universities Fund Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Edwin Wanyonyi said the investment underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening higher education as a driver of national development.

TSC said it had received concerns from employees over unexpected changes in their June payslips, which showed increased PAYE deductions compared to previous months.

KNEC said affected candidates will be required to undergo a validation process of their primary school credentials before being allowed to sit for the September test.

The MPs raised the concerns during a committee sitting at Bunge Towers, where they examined the Auditor General reports covering the financial years 2021/2022 to 2024/2025.

KNEC has directed all registered senior schools to enrol Grade 10 learners on the Competency-Based Assessment portal for School-Based Assessment before the July 30, 2026 registration deadline.

According to the association, the current funding model is no longer sustainable as schools continue to grapple with rising prices of food, utilities, learning materials, transport, staff salaries and infrastructure maintenance.

The association’s chairman, Silas Obuhatsa, emphasised that involving parents more in school affairs would help identify and address problems before they escalate.

KUPPET said the remarks being made during the campaigns were creating fear among teachers and other civil servants, with some teachers from outside the county expressing concerns over their safety.

The petitioners, led by Maurice Otieno Ouma and Paul Juma Were, said deputy principals appointed between 2001 and 2014 have remained in the same grades for years despite gaining more experience and taking up additional duties in school administration.

HELB has been allocated Sh56.3 billion against a requirement of Sh112.1 billion to support an estimated 1.38 million students, leaving a deficit of Sh55.8 billion.

The new model will replace the current system, where learners leave secondary school with a single academic certificate. Under the reforms, learners will receive the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education (KCBE) together with a vocational or professional qualification linked to the Kenya National Qualifications Framework.

Ogamba noted that the incidents are not only disrupting academic programmes but also forcing schools to redirect funds that were meant to improve learning conditions and expand access to education.

Committee chair, Julius Melly, said the inquiry is intended to provide a clear and practical roadmap for addressing the situation, describing the unrest as a recurring challenge that requires urgent attention.

The initial distribution of Grade 10 textbooks was carried out using provisional enrolment data provided by the Ministry of Education.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the arrears will be paid before the end of the current financial year.

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.