Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has blamed the Ruto government for the problems currently facing the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Speaking at a local radio station on Monday, January 26, 2026, Matiang’i said the issue in the education sector is not the CBC model itself, but the way it has been implemented by the current administration.
He explained that the government failed to continue with the plans and systems put in place by the previous administration, leading to confusion in schools.
According to Matiang’i, the decision to change Kenya’s education system was already planned under Vision 2030, but the current leadership does not fully understand how CBC works.
Matiang’i also warned that bringing politics into education reforms has contributed to the challenges being experienced in the sector.
Call for More Day Schools
Matiang’i further suggested that the government should invest more in public day secondary schools to make education affordable.
He said learners should attend secondary schools near their homes and only move away when joining colleges and universities to allow for national integration at higher levels of learning.
CBC Transition Challenges
His comments come at a time when CBC implementation challenges in Kenya have become more visible, especially during the transition from Grade 9 to Grade 10.
Current government data shows that only about 85 per cent of learners have joined senior secondary schools, leaving around 15 per cent yet to enrol.
Earlier reports had shown even lower transition rates, forcing the government to extend deadlines and carry out mop-up exercises to get all learners into school.
The low enrolment has raised concerns about school readiness, available facilities, and proper planning, with many questioning whether the problems could have been avoided through better implementation
