Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has assured Parliament that the historic transition of the first Competency-Based Education (CBE) cohort to Senior School is progressing steadily, with national reporting rates now at 96%.
Addressing legislators at the 2026 Legislative Retreat in Naivasha, Ogamba provided a comprehensive update on the state of the education sector, covering transition logistics, financing, infrastructure, and teacher readiness.
The CS confirmed that 1,130,556 learners—the inaugural CBE class—sat the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) in November 2025.
Following a placement process guided by a blend of national assessments and school-based evaluations, students have been distributed across three academic pathways: STEM (52%), Social Sciences (38%), and Arts and Sports Science (10%).
Admission rates surged after a recent presidential directive mandating schools to admit all placed learners unconditionally, even regarding fees or uniforms.
"As of noon January 27, transition stood at 96 per cent, a significant rise from 92 per cent last week," Ogamba reported.Infrastructure and Funding Commitment Detailed
To accommodate the expanded student population under the 100% transition policy, the government has constructed 23,000 new Grade 9 classrooms over the past two years. Senior schools now boast a total capacity of 2.2 million learners, deemed sufficient for the current cohort. An additional 1,600 laboratories are slated for construction in 1,452 schools with international partner support.
On financing, Ogamba reiterated the state’s commitment to free basic education, citing annual capitation rates of Ksh 1,420 for primary, Ksh 15,042 for junior school, and Ksh 22,244 for senior school. The sector’s budget for the current fiscal year is Ksh 702.7 billion, accounting for 28% of the national budget, though a Ksh 48.3 billion deficit remains.
The CS moved to clarify public concerns regarding school clustering and fees. He announced that a harmonized school fees framework for senior schools will be gazetted shortly, emphasizing that the categorization of schools into C1–C4 clusters is purely for administrative structuring and does not alter officially approved fees.
To ensure effective CBE delivery, the government has retooled nearly 400,000 teachers across primary, junior, and senior school levels over the past few years, alongside recruiting a record 100,000 new teachers in the last three years.
Ogamba acknowledged delays in textbook distribution, which currently stands at 57.58%, but assured that full distribution to a ratio of one book per learner per core subject is targeted for the first week of February.
He also revealed that amendments to the Basic Education Act are being pursued to strengthen policy enforcement and hold education officers accountable for non-compliance.
The CS concluded by reaffirming the Ministry’s dedication to “a smooth, equitable, and fully compliant transition,” vowing to safeguard access, quality, and accountability at all levels of basic education.
