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Keep off Grade 10 placement, Ogamba tells politicians
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba during the release of the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education results, at AIC Chebisaa Boys School in Eldoret City, Uasin Gishu County on January 09, 2026.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has asked politicians to keep off the sector and vowed to protect the integrity of the Senior School placement process from interference.
Speaking at Chebisaas Boys’ School on Friday after releasing the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results, the Cabinet Secretary took issue with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and other leaders, accusing them of attempts to sabotage the transition to senior school for political mileage.
“We will not sit back and allow politicians to bring political nonsense into the education sector,” Mr Ogamba said. “Let them leave matters of education to the experts. I urge these politicians to go back to the dictionary and learn the meaning of the word ‘national."
He was reacting to recent comments from politicians over transition into senior school for 1.1 million learners who completed junior school last year.
There has been a scramble for slots in prestigious Cluster 1 institutions (former national schools), with institutions like Alliance High School and Kenya High School receiving more than 20,000 applications each for only 500 available slots. Mr Gachagua has said “outsiders” have taken most of the positions in top school based in Mt Kenya at the expense of students from the region. Yesterday, the former Deputy President defended the remarks.
The CS revealed that his office is aware of influential individuals attempting to bypass the official system to secure slots through the “backdoor” for their kin.
"The era of canvassing for school slots is over. Every child in Kenya, regardless of their background, deserves a fair chance based on their hard work," he stated.
"Cheap politics"
Addressing allegations of a "funding crisis," Mr Ogamba dismissed claims that the government had reduced funding for schools, terming the rumours "cheap politics."
He clarified that the Ministry of Education has already released Sh44 billion to schools to ensure Grade 10 students start their studies on Monday next week without financial hurdles.
“The government has not reduced capitation. We have instead put in place measures to ensure schools receive money on time. I urge these politicians to sit down and understand the sector before politicizing everything,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary cautioned heads of institutions against selling admission slots to desperate parents.
“No school is permitted to charge even a single shilling for an admission letter. Joining instructions are free on the portal,” Mr Ogamba said. “Any principal caught taking bribes or charging unauthorised fees will be doing so at their own peril. We will deal with them administratively.”
Despite the heat surrounding the CBC transition, the CS reported that 88 per cent of Grade 10 learners have been successfully placed.
He noted that a transparent review window for parents with legitimate grievances remains open until January 9.
“We are ready to take these politicians head-on to protect the future of our children,” the CS added.
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