Hard truths. Bold Insights. Real talk.
The Ministry of Education opened the Grade 10 selection process on August 24, 2026, giving learners until September 11 to make their choices through the Selection and Placement System.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Deputy Secretary-General Hesbon Otieno said the ministry should have completed the exercise earlier to allow schools enough time to analyse learner assessment reports and guide them appropriately.
Data from the Ministry of Education shows that more than 330 cases of student unrest have been reported since April, among them 95 school fires and dozens of attempted arson incidents. The violence claimed the lives of 18 learners, making the period one of the deadliest school terms in recent years.
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Chief Executive Prof Charles Ong’ondo said the difficulties stemmed from differences between projected learner numbers used to prepare textbooks and the actual enrolment figures later submitted by schools.
The advisory highlights that the information is not only of public interest but also linked to constitutional rights, including access to education.
KICD Chief Executive Officer Prof Charles Ong’ondo said the delay had nothing to do with the institute’s evaluation process, noting that publishers had completed manuscripts early but could not move to distribution without payment.
According to the Ministry, all information submitted through the platform will be treated with strict confidentiality to protect whistleblowers and ensure credible investigations. The reporting window will remain open until Monday, February 2, 2026.
Speaking on Sunday during an interdenominational church service in Maemba, Sigowet Soin, Kericho County, Kindiki said measures had been intensified to ensure every learner is in class before the end of the week.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on Thursday announced that the Ministry of Education has procured a total of 11,867,325 textbooks for Grade 10, reinforcing the government’s policy of providing core learning materials at a ratio of one book per learner.
In the directive, learners without senior fees or school uniforms have been allowed to report in their junior school uniforms as temporary arrangements are made.
According to Ogamba, ministry field teams have been working with county and sub-county education officers to resolve issues related to school timetables, student placements, and infrastructure challenges linked to the reforms.
Figures from the Ministry of Education show that only around 400,000 of the 1.1 million students placed have reported so far, leaving more than 700,000 yet to start. National schools are recording strong attendance, while extra-county and sub-county institutions lag behind.