Babu Owino urges govt to ensure 100% transition from junior to senior secondary schools
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, January 22, 2026Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino has urged the government to ensure a seamless transition for learners transitioning from junior schools to senior schools. He has said that it is a sad state of affairs that more than 500,000 learners who sat for the grade nine exams have not transitioned into junior schools due to a lack of school fees.
In a video seen by the People Daily Digital on his social handles on Thursday, January 22, 2026, the Embakasi East member of parliament has urged the president to take on the matter urgently and take it upon himself to ensure a 100 per cent transition of learners.
“The government must act urgently to ensure every child goes to school. Many parents cannot afford school fees, and as a result, over 500,000 students have not reported to Grade 10. Education is a right, not a privilege; no child should be left behind because of poverty,” said Babu.
In addition, Babu has faulted the government on its lack of ability to ensure this transition has been effected. He has noted that the government’s priority at this point of transition would have been on education, but instead the leaders have shifted their energies to other activities that are of less priority at present.
Encouragement to parents
Babu has urged the parents whose children have not transitioned to senior secondary schools not to lose hope, recognizing their efforts to get the kids through the junior schools, giving them a hope for a better future, regardless of the current turmoil they are going through.
Govt’s assurance
Babu’s sentiments have come at a time when the government, through the Ministry of Education, has announced an extension of the enrollment window, confirming that 85 per cent of the earners have transitioned into senior schools, leaving out 15 per cent. The ministry has also attributed this delay in transition to challenges in parents’ urge to move their learners to schools closer to where they had been enlisted to enroll.
The ministry has, however, committed to intensifying the enrollment of the remaining learners with possible support of bursaries and other support programs.