Media personality Willis Raburu has urged the government to make education free across Kenya, citing recent initiatives by Members of Parliament to ease the financial burden on parents.
On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Raburu referenced reports that Mathira MP Eric Mwangi Wamumbi had introduced free day secondary education in his constituency. In a post, Raburu questioned why the government could not replicate the same model nationwide:
“If Mathira MP Wamumbi can make day secondary education fully free… then the government should… ama is it too early in the morning to think yawa!”
Free Education in Mathira
Wamumbi made the announcement during an education event in Mathira West Sub-County on Monday, January 19, 2026, declaring that all day school students in the constituency would no longer pay school fees.
“Watoto waende shule wakasome, na mimi nimesomeshwa kwa tabu. Watoto wetu wote wa day school hapa Mathira school fees ni free of charge, hakuna kulipa hata shilingi,” he said, explaining that he had worked with the Board of Management (BOM) and school principals to allocate funds for the programme.
Kiharu’s Fee Reduction Initiative
The move came just a week after Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro announced a reduction of day school fees to Ksh500 for students across his constituency. His initiative will benefit more than 12,000 students in 65 public day secondary schools, significantly improving access to education.
The programme, set to begin in term one of 2026, also includes a nutritional component, guaranteeing a daily lunch for every learner even on Saturdays to support academic performance and wellbeing.
Government’s Position
While these constituency-level initiatives have been welcomed by parents and education stakeholders, President William Ruto’s government has dismissed claims of planned fee hikes, insisting that school fees will not be increased nationally.
Nonetheless, Raburu’s call highlights growing public demand for universal free education, a policy that could transform access to learning and reduce inequality across the country.
