Uniform cartel row: MPs consider scrapping school uniforms

The lawmakers pointed out that schools have turned into cartels where uniforms are stocked within the institutions and sold to parents at double the market price.

In others cases, the lawmakers pointed out that schools direct parents to specific outlets where to get the uniforms.

If MPs make good their threat, Kenya will join other countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Austria, and Estonia among others where school uniform is not mandatory.

School uniform serves as a unique identifier and marks of school tradition and history.

Currently School uniforms are determined by the board of management of the institutions in consultation with parents associations of the respective schools in accordance with Regulations 67 of the basic education regulations.

The matter was raised by Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah who complained that many students have been locked out of school since they cannot afford uniforms.

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“What action are you taking against teachers who don’t follow your guidelines and don’t adhere to regulations on school uniforms? He asked.

Mr Ichung’wah pointed out that vendors have now set up in schools selling school uniforms wondering when schools became a market centre.

Also questioned why those that have transited to Junior Secondary School (JSS) are compelled to change uniforms.

“The children are being harassed every day. Why should we change uniforms for JSS students? I thought we were to make education accessible to all children.

“Schools will reopen next week and you will see children chased away because of uniforms,” Mr Ichung’wah.

“We cannot afford to have children at home because of lack of school uniform, they better go with home clothes,” said Thika Town Alice Ng’ang’a.

Suba South-Caroli Omondi said it is up to this House to decide whether we need school uniforms. In many other jurisdictions, it is mandatory.

“We need a report from the ministry on the merits and demerits of school uniforms so that we make a determination but in my view, we don’t need school uniforms,” Mr Omondi said.

“If this House decides that we need uniforms, then it is up to us and the government to decide the price so that it doesn’t become a barrier to access to education,” He added.

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Teso South MP Mary Emasse said the price of uniforms in schools is higher than those in the market.

“If the ministry has failed to deal with this issue, then let’s do away with uniforms and children to go with home clothes,” Ms Emaase said.

“We have talked about it in this House, in the education committee and it appears like even the circulars from the ministry are not being adhered to,” she added.

Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba said the House should either liberalise the market on school uniforms or scrap it altogether.

“We either make it a free market so that teachers aren’t involved with it or do away with it after all, why are we having uniforms after all. We must make a decision that will make education accessible and if school uniform is among them, we will deal with it,” Mr Milemba said.

Githunguri Gathoni Wamuchomba said according to the Basic Education Act no.14 of 2013, Basic Education Regulations, 2015 and other enabling legal instruments-Parents are not supposed to purchase uniforms from school shops

“In my constituency, there are schools still stocking uniforms in their compounds. When did a head teacher employed by the government become a uniform vendor in the school compound?

Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino pointed out that the enforcement of school uniforms in schools is more traumatizing to children and the ministry should think outside the box

“Why should we subject our children to trauma and intimidation? Circulars have been given, guidelines have been issued but no one is implementing them,” Mr Owino said.

Mr Ogamba told the House that the ministry has a policy in place to ensure school uniforms are not prohibitively expensive

The CS said through a circular issued in 2023 top regions heads of education to ensure that uniforms are not stocked within schools and parents compelled to buy them or where principals or heads of institutions direct parents to purchase parents in specific dealers.

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Mr Ogamba maintained that no schools are allowed to stock uniforms, direct parents on where to buy the uniforms or stock any kind of boarding items.

According to the CS, no principal is allowed to deny any student admission on the basis of lack of uniforms.

He said the ministry is working on a presidential directive issued in January to review the price of uniforms in public schools in consultations with stakeholders with the aim of reducing financial parents.

The review the CS said will check on colour, price variation and design to ensure quality and fairness in the supply of school education.

“Do we need uniforms, what kind of uniforms do we need? Do we need one single uniform for all learners in the country? Do we need to work with NYS so that we produce the uniforms?

“We have formed a team to look at all these issues through stakeholders’ engagement so that by July this year, we will be issuing a policy guideline for the whole sector on school uniforms in basic institutions,” Mr Ogamba said.

Likoni MP Mishi Mboko and Busia woman representative Catherine Omanyo however said uniforms should not be scrapped as it brings equality in schools.

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