Ledama: Obsession with national schools fuel elitism and tribalism
By Joel Masibo, January 9, 2026Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has criticised Kenya’s long-standing obsession with so-called “national schools,” arguing that the institutions in question fuel elitism, inequality and tribalism.
Taking to X on Friday, January 9, 2026, shortly after the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results were announced, the legislator said that the country’s education system has become deeply unequal and exclusionary because of the national schools narrative.
Olekina also described Kenya’s glorified national schools as a relic of the past that no longer serves the interests of most learners.
Fueling elitism
He warned that the fixation on a few elite institutions, such as Alliance High School and Mang’u High School, fuels elitism, entrenches tribalism, and widens inequality within the education sector.
”The truth is, Kenya’s obsession with “top schools” is misplaced. Our glorified national schools are a relic that fuels elitism, tribalism, and inequality,” Olekina said.
According to the senator, this imbalance has created a false narrative of success, where a handful of well-resourced schools are used to suggest the system is working. In reality, he argued, the education structure fails most learners, particularly those in marginalised and rural areas.
His sentiments come at a time when former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua ‘s remarks on national school admission have sparked a heated debate across the country. Gachagua has come out to claim that children from the Mount Kenya region are being overlooked while those from other parts of the country are given priority in joining national schools in Central Kenya.
Fundamental shift
On the same, Olekina has called for a fundamental shift in how the country views and funds education, stressing that every county deserves schools of equal quality. He has challenged policymakers to abandon the “national school” mindset and instead prioritise fair funding, quality teaching, and equity across all public institutions.
”While parents fight for spots at Alliance or Mangu, most children are left in underfunded schools that barely function. Every county deserves schools just as good, but until we scrap the “national school” mindset and focus on fair funding, quality teaching, and equity, we’ll keep pretending a few success stories mean the system works. It doesn’t. Not for most Kenyan children,” the lawmaker added.
The senator’s remarks add to a growing national conversation on education reforms, especially in the wake of persistent disparities in infrastructure, teacher distribution, and learning outcomes across regions.