President William Ruto has directed that all learners across Kenya report to school starting Friday, January 23, 2026, regardless of financial challenges or lack of uniforms.
Speaking in Meru during the disbursement of funds under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) business support programme, the Head of State emphasized that no child should be denied access to education due to inability to pay school fees.
Government Commitment to Education
President Ruto noted that the government has already disbursed Ksh.44 billion in capitation funds to support education in the first term.
“There is sufficient money for our children to be taught in the first term, so every child, with or without uniform and school fees, should report to school tomorrow morning,” he said.
He further directed chiefs, assistant chiefs, and provincial administration officers to ensure compliance with the directive, stressing that the government has provided the necessary resources to guarantee learning for all children.
Seamless Transition Under CBC
The President underscored the importance of ensuring a smooth transition from primary school to junior school under the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC). He insisted that financial hitches should not cripple the process, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening Kenya’s education system.
Current Enrollment Status
According to the Ministry of Education, as of Wednesday, January 22, 2026, more than 930,000 students who sat for the 2025 Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) exams have reported to school. This represents the majority of the 1.13 million registered learners, though thousands are yet to enroll.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed that teams have been deployed nationwide to track down students who have not yet reported, ensuring that every learner is accounted for.
Conclusion
President Ruto’s directive reinforces the government’s stance that education is a fundamental right and must be accessible to all children, regardless of financial circumstances. With significant funding already allocated and provincial administration tasked with enforcement, the move is expected to boost enrollment and strengthen Kenya’s commitment to universal education.
