More than 830,000 Grade 10 learners are yet to report to senior school, with parents citing inability to raise full fees, delayed bursary and high transport costs, even as other families position their children to take up slots left vacant by students who fail to report.
According to the Ministry of Education, some 301,701 learners had reported to school by yesterday afternoon, or just over a quarter of the 1,130,459 candidates who sat the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).
Of those who have reported, boys are 151,740 (50.3 per cent) while girls are 149,961 or 49.7 per cent.
Most learners have joined C4 or sub-county schools (41 per cent), followed by C2 – extra-county schools – (25 per cent), C1 – national schools – (18 per cent) and C3 – county schools – at 15 per cent.
Though reporting continues throughout the week, parents whose children have been admitted to schools far from their home counties say high transport costs compound the financial strain, raising fears that the final stretch of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) rollout could be disrupted.
Basic Education Principal Secretary, Julius Bitok, told the Daily Nation that the low turnout is expected, adding that this is the first Grade 10 class.
“We are rolling out Grade 10, and the transition is not easy. However, schools are receiving learners. We hope that more students will report on Thursday and Friday,” Prof Bitok said.
He added no learner would fail to join senior school, saying selection of beneficiaries of the Elimu Scholarship – expected to support 10,000 students – is ongoing.
“There are NG-CDF bursaries and scholarships from partner organisations. No child will miss out on education,” he said.
Prof Bitok added that the revision and admission window remains open until Friday and that admissions would be strictly digital, using the same system employed during placement to enhance transparency.
Parents during admission of grade 10 learners at Kapsabet Boys High School in Nandi County.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
Although the government released Sh44.2 billion in capitation last week, parents and teachers interviewed said the money has not eased pressure on households, with many citing the high cost of senior school uniforms, boarding requirements and many other essentials.
“We are ready for the Competency-Based Education (CBE). Teachers are in class, and laboratories are open, but the classrooms are near-empty,” a principal of a national school in Kwale County told the Daily Nation.
“If we don’t finalise admissions this week, we cannot start teaching as planned.”
In Kilifi County, Ms Agnes Sidi Karisa – a resident of Kaloleni – said many parents remain stuck with their children at home due to financial challenges.
“My daughter was placed at Kombeni Girls – a national school – but she could not report on Monday like others because I’m still looking for fees. I brought her today, but many parents are straining,” she said yesterday.
Kombeni Girls Senior School Principal, Rose Busolo, said only 44 of the expected 600 learners had reported by yesterday.
“The trickle is worrying. Many parents have asked the school to extend the reporting date to around January 20 in order to raise the required amount,” Ms Busolo said.
Mr Charles Magati, a peasant, has not taken his son to Nyambaria High School, Nyamira County.
Mr Magati said he is still looking for Sh22,000 first-term fees, despite having spent Sh15,000 on school requirements.
A Grade 10 student arrives at Nakuru High Senior School on January 12, 2026 for admission.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
“Every time you get to school, you are informed of other charges. It is one payment after another. Poor parents like me are exhausted,” he said.
Menyenya SDA High School Principal, Samuel Abuga, said most parents have pleaded for more time to meet financial demands.
“Many Kenyan families feel the weight of the harsh economic times. Some have asked us to give them until next week, in the hope that they can raise part of the required amounts,” Mr Abuga said.
Mr Peter Omuya said his hopes were dashed on learning that bursary from the devolved government of Kisii does not cover students joining Grade 10.
He added that his heart sank when he walked out of the Bobaracho Ward Representative’s office, where he had gone to apply for bursary for his daughter, who is to join Kereri Girls Senior School.
“I was told to wait until admissions are complete. I don’t know what to do,” Mr Omuya said.
In Homa Bay County, Pamela Atieno, who scored 66 points and was called to Butere Girls, has not reported to school.
“I can only achieve my dream of becoming a medical doctor if I go to Butere Girls. If not, Asumbi or Ogande Girls would be my options,” she said in tears.
Atieno’s mother, Linnet Adhiambo, said the family’s finances collapsed when her small business failed.
“I even thought of a day school, but that has become difficult too. My daughter has threatened to leave home if she doesn’t join her dream school,” Ms Adhiambo said.
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
Letisha Atieno, who earned a place at Kisumu Girls School, remains at home as her mother cannot raise Sh53,000.
Ms Everlyne Adhiambo, a resident of Oyugis, said she cannot afford commitment fees for her daughter Mitchelle Achieng, as demanded by Ogande Girls Senior school despite appeals to well-wishers.
In Murang’a, Ms Jacinta Njiru, a single mother and laundry worker, said she cannot raise Sh55,000 in fees and Sh25,000 for personal items for her son, admitted at Njiiri High School.
“We cried. I only have Sh6,000 in savings,” Ms Njiru said.
Meru County Education Director, Joseph Maki, said some schools expecting 100 learners had received about 10.
At Meru School, a total of 450 of the 720 students had reported by yesterday.
Dean of Studies Mark Namaswa attributed the delay to financial challenges, adding that the early reporting date after the long holidays left many families unprepared.
“In the past, Form One students reported in late January, giving parents time to prepare,” Mr Namaswa said.
Nkubu High Principal, Henry Imunya, said fewer students reported on the first day than in past years. He said many scholarship programmes are missing.
“The number of students in the ministry list reporting is worrying. There are teething problems emanating from the online admission and poverty aggravated by the failed rains,” Mr Imunya said.
In Kirinyaga and Embu counties, some parents said children admitted to distant schools have not reported due to high transport costs.
“Some children received letters from schools in Western and Nyanza regions, which they never selected. We are not used to such bus fares,” one of the parents said.
A group of parents outside Starehe Boys Centre and School on January 2, 2025 where they had gone to seek clarity on the admission of their children for Grade 10.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
“My son was called to Kianyaga Boys Senior School after scoring 66 points in KJSEA, but he has not joined the institution yet. I’m desperately looking for fees,” said Mr Anthony Njogu, a resident of Kirinyaga County.
Many learners in Nakuru remain at home. Felix Kimani, who is from a single-parent family and scored 65 points in the KJSEA, is one of them.
Several other parents told the Daily Nation they would send their children to school towards the end of the week.
“The government has given learners up to January 16 to report to school. We are looking for money to buy the required items and uniforms,” Mr Nichodemus Kioko, whose son is to report to Maseno School, said.
“I am racing against time to meet the January 16 deadline. I’m also in the process of securing NG-CDF bursary. These are tough economic times,” Mr David Mwangi said.
“My daughter was awarded Sh22,000 in bursary. I will take her to Rang'ala Girls High School in Siaya County tomorrow.”
In Nyandarua, hundreds of learners are stranded after the Controller of Budget failed to clear a Sh200 million county bursary, leaving many frustrated.
Some parents across the county said they are racing against time to meet the January 16 reporting deadline, with many considering transferring children to more affordable schools.
“My son was at Ndogino Primary School. He received a calling letter from Nyandarua High School, but is still at home because I have no money,” Ms Faith Wambui said.
“We expected him to be a beneficiary of the Nyandarua County Scholarship, but we are informed there is no such programme. It is disheartening.”
Rift Valley Regional Director of Education, James Indimuli, said the reporting rate stood at 40 per cent by yesterday, but expressed optimism that all qualified learners would be in school by tomorrow.
“Although reporting rates vary from school to school, the process is digital. We expect maximum transition now that the government has released capitation to facilitate smooth learning,” Mr Indimuli said.
The regional education chief attributed the slow reporting to some students seeking replacement for their institutions of choice, adding that most national schools are processing admissions efficiently.
Uasin Gishu County Education Director, David Koech, said the process “is slow but steady”, with Moi Girls Eldoret recording the highest reporting rate.
Other schools had significantly fewer learners. Turbo Girls, for instance, had 100, Chepsaita had 82, while Kaptebengwet had six students by yesterday afternoon.
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
Reporting remains low in Elgeyo Marakwet County, with St Patrick’s Iten and Metkei Girls – both national schools – having the highest number of learners by yesterday.
County Education Director, John Kemei, said about 200 of 570 learners reported to St Patrick’s Iten on Monday, while almost all learners were in class at Metkei Girls yesterday.
Mr Kemei said reporting was slow at St Alphonso Mutei Girls, Kipsaos and Kitany Boys, with the schools having fewer than 100 students in the first two days.
In Nandi County, Director of Education Harrison Muriuki said the reporting rate stood at 50 per cent by yesterday, adding that some households face challenges meeting school requirements.
A total of 270 of the expected 530 Grade 10 learners had reported at Baringo High School as of yesterday afternoon, reflecting the wider trend across the Rift Valley where tens of thousands of children are still at home.
Baringo High School Principal, Kiptoo Kimosop, said even sponsored learners are yet to report.
“It may be attributed to the government allowing students to report by Friday, but we also fear that some parents are in financial difficulties,” Mr Kimosop said.
In Turkana, Peter Ekale, who scored 59 points, is expected to join St Mark’s Boys Cherangany School in Trans Nzoia County; Salome Akai, with 58 points, was called to Moi High School Nangili; and James Epem, who scored 57 points, received a letter from Katilu Boys Secondary School in Turkana.
More than 100 students seeking Elimu Scholarships were reportedly turned away for scoring 45 points and below.
Parents have called on the government to implement affirmative action for children from arid and semi-arid counties, where schools often have poor infrastructure and teacher shortage has become a norm.
The harsh climatic conditions are also contributing to low marks, the parents said.
Reporting by Mercy Simiyu, Winnie Atieno, Kalume Kazungu, Wycliffe Nyaberi, George Odiwuor, Waikwa Maina, Eric Matara, Dominic Ombok, Mwangi Muiruri, David Muchui, George Munene, Barnabas Bii, Titus Ominde, Sammy Lutta and Florah Koech.
