Martha Karua warns of education crisis, says Grade 3 learners fail basic maths
By Kiprono Keileb, April 29, 2026People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has raised alarm over the state of education in Kenya, warning that poor learning outcomes among young children show the country is facing a serious national crisis that cannot be ignored.
In a statement shared on X on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, Karua said the growing number of Grade Three learners struggling with basic Maths and English should worry every Kenyan, adding that education remains the strongest tool for equality and opportunity.
She added that many children are unable to handle simple classroom tasks, stating that the situation reflects deeper failures in the education system that require urgent attention from both county and national leaders.
“Nearly 3 out of 4 Grade Three learners cannot do basic math. More than half are struggling with English,” she wrote.
Karua said this is no longer a small classroom problem but a national issue that threatens the country’s future, especially because children depend on strong early learning to succeed later in life.
“This is a national crisis that demands immediate action,” Karua wrote.
She stressed that children should never be left behind by weak systems, arguing that education must work for every child regardless of where they come from or their family background.
“Children are Kenya’s future, we cannot allow them to be failed by a system that only works for a few,” Karua wrote.
Reflecting on her experience in government during the late President Mwai Kibaki’s administration, Karua said she understands how powerful education can be in changing lives and creating equal opportunities for all.
“I served in President Mwai Kibaki’s cabinet, and I understood firsthand that education is the greatest equaliser,” the statement reads.
She explained that whether a child grows up in Turkana, Nyeri, Karen, or Eastlands, access to quality education gives them the same chance to compete, grow, and succeed in life.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re from Turkana or Karen, from a tea farm in Nyeri or an estate in Eastlands, quality education can equip you to compete and thrive in and beyond Kenya,” the statement reads.
Karua added that any serious government must protect education because it shapes the country’s economy, innovation, and long-term stability.
“That’s what a serious government protects,” the statement reads.
Karua went ahead to outline what she believes must happen immediately, beginning with better treatment for teachers, saying quality learning cannot happen when teachers are poorly paid, unsupported, and working without enough tools.
“Pay and equip teachers properly. You cannot expect quality education when teachers are underpaid, undertrained, and working without basic resources,” the statement reads.
“Invest in classrooms. Every child deserves a school with desks, books, and functional infrastructure.”
Karua further said education funds must be protected from misuse, insisting that money allocated for schools should reach learners instead of being lost through corruption.
“Hold county and national governments accountable for education budgets. The money is there. It must reach the classroom, not personal bank accounts,” she wrote.
Karua concluded by warning that failure to take education seriously now would mean failing an entire generation of young Kenyans.
“Education is the foundation of everything: our economy, our innovation, our future. We either take it seriously, or we fail the next generation completely,” she concluded.