Kenya on Monday crossed a historic education threshold as the first cohort of Grade 10 learners reported to senior secondary schools under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, marking the country’s full transition to pathway-based learning.
However, as the pioneer learners settled into the new senior school structure organised around Arts and Sports Science, Social Sciences and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), the milestone unfolded unevenly across the country.
Gaps in preparedness quickly emerged, ranging from teacher shortages and delayed learning materials to confusion over admission requirements and subject choices.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba expressed confidence that the reporting exercise had proceeded smoothly.
“The schools are prepared because capitation has been sent and no school fees have been increased. Some politicians are spreading rumours in the education sector, which ends up confusing both parents and pupils,” Mr Ogamba said in Murang’a, where he supervised the exercise.
In the Coast region, most activity was recorded in C1 senior schools, led by Shimo La Tewa High School, where parents thronged the institution to admit their Grade 10 learners.
Under the CBE system, a C1 senior school offers all three approved career pathways: Arts and Sports Science, Social Sciences, and STEM.
“I have capacity for 600 students, but so far about 54 have reported. We hope all learners will have arrived by Friday so that learning can begin. Parents have many questions, but we are explaining everything,” said Chief Principal Mathew Mutiso.
Shimo La Tewa Boys Senior School Chief Principal, Mathew Mutiso, welcoming visually impaired mother Stella Kadzo and her son Teddy Kahindi, 18, who was placed in the school.
Photo credit: Winnie Atieno|Nation Media Group
A parent, Mr Juma Mwaromo, said the placement process was smooth but urged the government to address persistent challenges, including shortages of infrastructure and teachers.
Some school heads said they had not yet received teachers trained in newly introduced subjects such as Woodwork, Metalwork and Home Science.
Grade 10 learners arrive at Kisumu Boys High School for Senior Secondary reporting.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
At Mpeketoni Boys High School in Lamu, principal Josphat Wainaina Nene said at least 60 Grade 10 learners had reported and been admitted by Monday evening.
Mr Nene said the school had been allocated eight Grade 10 streams but lacked specialised CBE subject teachers. Although Mpeketoni Boys has 50 teachers, none is trained to handle the new specialised subjects.
“We need at least eight more teachers, especially those trained in Woodwork, Metalwork and Home Science, to handle these newly introduced CBE subjects,” he said.
On learning materials, Mr Nene said the school was expecting deliveries later in the week.
“We do not have the materials in school at the moment, but we have been informed they are on the way. We are not deterred and expect them any time,” he said.
At Faza Mixed Secondary School in Lamu East Sub-county, principal Japheth Gwiyo said most of the Grade 10 learners who reported on Monday were seeking transfers after being placed in schools far from Lamu. The school expects to admit 100 Grade 10 students by the end of the week, with only 10 having reported by Monday.
“We appeal for at least four more teachers to be posted here. We also lack a TSC-employed Arabic teacher, and we hope the commission will consider us,” Mr Gwiyo said.
In Kisii and Nyamira, the usual chaotic back-to-school rush gave way to an unusual calm. Unlike previous years, when anxious parents would flock to school gates as early as 4am to secure places for their children, roads that normally choke with traffic remained largely clear as families navigated admission formalities with quiet anticipation.
Grade 10 students and their parents queue for clearance at Nakuru High Senior School on January 12, 2026 for admission.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
In contrast, the South Rift region saw parents and guardians camping outside school gates from as early as 3am. At Tenwek Boys High School, Principal Mutali Chesebe reported that 60 per cent of the expected 650 learners had arrived by mid-afternoon, reflecting the high competition for places at the institution.
Rift Valley Regional Director of Education Samwel Indimuli toured schools in the area to monitor progress and said no major hitches had been reported by mid-afternoon.
“The admission process for learners begins today and will continue through the end of the week, with transfers underway in some cases,” Mr Indimuli said. He added that education stakeholders and donors had been urged to support bright but needy students through scholarships, even as the government works to ensure that no learner is left behind.
At St Angela Sengera Girls High School, more than 300 Grade 10 learners are expected to join the institution. By 10am on Monday, however, only a handful had reported. Despite the slow start, school management remained confident that all learners would be admitted over the course of the week.
“We are well equipped and fully prepared to receive the Grade 10 learners. We will provide them with everything they need,” said Duke Marube, the school’s acting Deputy Principal and Director of Studies.
Parents, and guardians queue outside the School Outfitters store in the Nairobi CBD on Monday, January 12, 2026.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
Among the early arrivals was Obed Mokua, admitting his daughter to the extra-county school. Despite arriving early, he said uncertainty weighed heavily on him, as he had neither purchased all the required items nor cleared the full school fees.
“I only brought what I could afford. Life has been very challenging for us parents. I hope the school management will allow more time to settle fees and acquire all necessary items,” Mr Mokua said.
In Homa Bay County, several parents were caught off guard when asked to buy items they said were not listed among the official requirements for senior secondary school admission. Some complained that they were forced to spend money on unanticipated items, straining already tight budgets.
At Homa Bay High School, confusion over school requirements left some parents frustrated and learners unprepared. Mr Wilfred Osao said he only learnt that the school supplies exercise books—expected to be purchased by parents—after already buying his son’s from a bookshop in Homa Bay Town.
“I received two letters, one from the government and another from the school. Unfortunately, the requirements listed differ. There needs to be uniformity in what is stated,” he said.
Ms Edna Kerubo faced a similar dilemma. One of the admission requirements for her son was a pair of slippers. She bought them in Kisii for Sh100, only to discover the school sold the same slippers for Sh300.
“Some items sold in school are expensive,” she said.
The confusion meant some learners reported for admission without all required items. Homa Bay High School Senior Master Gerald Odundo said affected students would be allowed to start classes while parents arranged the missing items, noting that many of those affected are orphans.
“Others will have to seek assistance from well-wishers. The admission process will continue until Friday,” he said.
The school has capacity for 700 learners but had already received 300 transfer requests by Monday, reflecting high demand.
At Ogande Girls, Principal Jane Odhiambo said the school is fully prepared to receive students. Facilities include laboratories, music rooms, creative spaces, and dormitories with sufficient beds. Teachers have been trained on the new education system and assigned specific areas of study.
In Kisumu, learners arrived early as parents navigated placement letters, admission procedures, and the anxieties of the next academic step.
A Grade 10 student and her parent keenly listen to a teacher at Kisumu Girls High School during admission.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
Across several schools, parents and students raised concerns about subject pathways and whether schools were fully equipped for the rollout of Competency-Based Education (CBE).
At Kisumu Boys High School, Chief Principal Austin Muma said the institution expected about 700 learners by the end of the day.
“The learners started arriving at 5am. In terms of infrastructure, we are well prepared,” he said.
At Kisumu Girls High School, Chief Principal Doreen Juma said the process was largely smooth, despite a few placement issues. Over 250 learners were registered at the gate, and more than 100 had already been admitted to dormitories.
One learner arrived with a downloaded placement letter for Kisumu Girls but initially could not be traced in the ministry’s system.
“She appeared under another school, but our directors have taken her details and are following up. We have begun admitting her, and by the end of the day she will belong to Kisumu Girls,” Ms Juma said.
In Kirinyaga and Embu counties, school heads say the government has yet to provide textbooks, an essential resource for learning.
At Good Samaritan Senior Day Secondary School in Kirinyaga, Senior Principal Margaret Mugure said the institution was ready to receive Grade 10 students, but the lack of textbooks remained a major challenge.
“We have enough teachers, classrooms, computer and science laboratories, and other necessary facilities, but the government has not released textbooks for the new learners,” she said.
Ms Mugure added that the Ministry of Education had placed 120 Grade 10 students at the school, but it has the capacity to accommodate more.
“We can admit up to 200 learners because we have sufficient classrooms,” she said.
At Nanyuki High School in Laikipia County, 100 Grade 10 students were admitted on Monday, with around 600 more expected during the week.
Deputy Principal Gitonga King’ori said most students had opted for the STEM pathway, but the school has established a career guidance desk to advise learners on the most suitable paths based on personal interests and performance in the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA).
“We have set up a desk to guide learners on the best pathways, as some may have chosen courses without full information on what they entail. Once the choice is made, it will remain for the next three years,” Mr Gitonga explained.
The national school offers all three pathways. STEM covers pure and applied sciences and technical studies, including a new metalwork subject. The social sciences pathway has six subjects, while the arts and sports track offers fine arts, music, dance, and several foreign languages.
Meanwhile, parents admitting children to Machakos Boys’ High School for Grade 10 have protested an abrupt and costly requirement imposed at the point of admission. Several parents said they had already purchased all items listed in the official admission letter, including uniforms and bedding, only to be told these would not be accepted. Instead, they were instructed to buy a complete new set from the school at Sh13,000.
The directive caused confusion and distress, with some parents travelling long distances and forced to make unplanned payments. Many questioned why the items they had already purchased were rejected and described the move as unfair and financially punishing.
In the North Rift, thousands of parents and students queued outside top national schools, some arriving as early as 4am, hoping to secure places in the new Senior Secondary School intake.
With demand far exceeding capacity, many hopeful applicants were turned away, leading to tense standoffs at some schools.
At Kapsabet Boys High School, over 1,000 parents seeking walk-in admissions were reportedly turned away. Chief Principal Kipchumba Maiyo said the school was prepared to admit a large cohort, but demand had far outstripped available space.
“As of noon today, we have admitted 500 students. By Friday, we anticipate a total of 600. The interest is massive; parents started arriving as early as 4am,” Mr Maiyo told Nation.
In Uasin Gishu County, Moi Girls High School in Eldoret reported similarly high turnout, though the process remained orderly. Chief Principal Juliana Kurui said the school was well-equipped for the intake.
“We have admitted 400 students, and the process is moving seamlessly. Our goal is 500, and the infrastructure is in place to support them,” Ms Kurui said.
In Nandi County, Aldai Boys High School experienced confusion and anger as parents and students found the gates barricaded by suspected goons. The standoff followed a controversial decision to convert the school into Kaimos University campus, affecting both Senior Secondary and continuing students.
“We arrived ready for the new term, only to find strangers blocking the gate,” said Mary Jepkosgei, a frustrated parent.
At St Anthony Boys in Kitale, the admission of over 600 new students began smoothly, with parents reporting with the required fees and personal items, Principal Simon Masibo said.
Reporting by Winnie Atieno, Kalume Kazungu, Wycliffe Nyaberi, George Odiwuor, Domnic Ombok, Vitalis Kimutai, Mwangi Muiruri, Steve Otieno, And George Munene, Titus Ominde and Evans Jaola
