Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has issued a fresh directive to senior school principals after President William Ruto’s order on grade 10 transition.

Ruto, on Thursday, January 22, 2026, ordered that no child should remain at home due to a lack of school fees or school uniforms.

As a result, Ogamba, in a statement issued on Thursday, January 22, 2026, has instructed senior school principals to admit all learners placed in their institutions, without any conditions.

“Senior school principals shall forthwith admit all learners placed to their institutions,” Ogamba stated.

The principals have also been directed to allow learners without school uniforms to join their respective senior schools in their junior school uniforms.

School capitation funds

The school heads have also been directed to optimise the use of the capitation funds that were disbursed to schools on January 2, 2026, while permitting parents and guardians the necessary flexibility in paying their household contributions.

Senior school and junior school heads of institutions have also been directed to immediately share details of their learners who were not admitted by the deadline of January 21, 2026.

“All learners shall be admitted to their respective senior schools without any condition as to the payment of school fees. Senior school principals shall optimise the use of the capitation funds that were disbursed to schools on 2nd January, 2026, while permitting parents and guardians the necessary flexibility in paying their household contributions,” the statement reads in part.

“Senior school and junior school heads of institution shall immediately share details of their learners who were not admitted by the deadline of 21 January, 2026, and work together with Sub-County Directors of Education and National Government Administration Officers in tracing such learners for prompt admission to senior school.”

Ogamba further reminded parents that it was punishable by law under Section 31 of the Basic Education Act, 2013, to fail to present their children for admission.

“In accordance with Section 32 of the Basic Education Act, 2013, no learner shall be required to pay admission fees for admission to a public senior school. In the same vein, in line with Section 34(5) of the Basic Education Act, 2013, no child shall be denied admission to a public school. Parents and guardians are also reminded that it is an offence, punishable by law under Section 31 of the Basic Education Act, 2013, to fail to present their children for admission,” he stated.

“Any report of non-compliance with the foregoing directives shall be made to the nearest Education Office or National Government Administration Office for appropriate action in accordance with the applicable law. Sub-County Directors of Education shall collect data relating to all learners who will be admitted to senior school with junior school uniforms and or without payment of fees. This data shall be submitted to the Ministry Headquarters.”

Slow grade 10 turnout

Thousands of Grade 10 learners have not yet transitioned to senior school due to their parents’ lack of school fees and other school requirements.

Students yet to report for Grade 10 had been given until Wednesday, January 21, 2026, after the Ministry of Education extended the admission deadline amid a slow turnout.

The deadline had initially been set for January 16, but CS Ogamba said the extension was necessary to ensure no learner is left out of senior secondary education.

The slow reporting has been attributed in part to rising costs of schooling, with parents in extra-county and county schools complaining that they are struggling to meet fees, uniforms, books, personal effects, and, in some cases, additional charges for specific subjects.