Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has announced that 92 percent of Grade 10 learners have reported to senior schools across the country.
Prof Kindiki said the government is committed to ensuring all learners have access to education.
“So far, 92 percent of the grade 10 students have joined Senior School, and the remaining eight percent will be in school this week, beginning tomorrow (Monday). NGAO officers are under firm instructions to ensure all children are in school. We will not allow anyone or anything to distract or undermine the education of our children,” Prof Kindiki said on Sunday.
The Deputy President noted that the government had constructed 23,000 classrooms and 16,000 laboratories across the 47 counties to ensure a 100 percent transition of learners to secondary schools.
The Deputy President spoke during a Sunday service at Maemba A GC in Soin Sigowet Constituency, Kericho County.
Others in attendance were Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Kericho Governor Erick Mutai, MPs Justice Kemei, Nelson Koech, Joseph Cherorot, Hillary Koskei, Woman Representative Beatrice Kemei, and Libet Chepkorir, among others.
Last week, President William Ruto directed education officials to mobilise learners who have not yet reported to school to ensure that all students across the 47 counties join Grade 10 by Monday.
Dr Ruto said that learners from humble backgrounds will be allowed to report to school even if they lack uniforms or have not paid their school fees. Local administrators and education officials will oversee the exercise, though it remains unclear how pending fees will be handled.
A significant number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds have reportedly not reported to schools due to lack of fees, while others are seeking to transfer to different institutions. To address these challenges, school principals have been allowed to directly admit students to their institutions.
Some students had been admitted to day schools far from their homes, making daily travel difficult. Professor Kindiki said the government plans to upgrade road networks and expand rural electrification in Kericho County to improve access to education and boost development in rural areas.
