Kipchumba Murkomen on Friday, March 13, hosted the inaugural Elgeyo-Marakwet Elimu Conference in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, bringing together education leaders and stakeholders to discuss strategies for improving academic performance and strengthening learning institutions in the region.
The one-day forum, held at the Lornah Kiplagat Sports Academy, was attended by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba alongside education officials, school principals, teacher union representatives, academics, students and professionals from across the county.
The conference attracted about 2,500 participants, making it one of the largest education-focused gatherings in the region in recent years.
Murkomen said the forum aims to explore practical solutions to the challenges affecting education standards in the county, including declining academic performance in some areas.
He noted that parts of the county, particularly in the lower Kerio Valley region, have struggled with education setbacks due to years of insecurity linked to banditry.
“Some parts of Elgeyo-Marakwet are recovering from decades of banditry, and this has affected the quality of education over the years,” Murkomen said.
According to the Interior CS, other challenges facing schools in the county include a high teacher-to-student ratio, inadequate infrastructure such as laboratories, and low transition rates to senior secondary schools and TVET institutions.
Murkomen emphasised that improving education standards requires a coordinated approach involving government, teachers, parents and other stakeholders.
“No single stakeholder has the solution to these challenges. That is why we are bringing everyone together to explore the best ways of raising education standards in the shortest time possible,” he added.
The conference is organised under the OKM Foundation, which was established in 2023 and currently supports about 200 students annually through scholarships and mentorship programmes.
The foundation also promotes youth development through sports tournaments across the North Rift region.
Education officials from the Ministry of Education (Kenya) and the Teachers Service Commission are expected to deliver presentations during the forum, while the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) will conduct sensitisation sessions on alcohol and substance abuse among learners.
The conference is being held under the theme “Collaborative Education for Sustainable Student Success,” highlighting the importance of partnerships among teachers, parents, government institutions and communities in improving learning outcomes.
Murkomen said the initiative also aligns with the government’s broader goal of ensuring that improved peace and security in the region translates into better opportunities for young people.
