Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has issued a stern warning to schools across the country against forcing parents to purchase uniforms, mattresses, or other school utilities from particular shops, individuals, or the schools themselves.

Speaking on the night of Wednesday, January 21, 2026, during an interview with a local TV station, CS Ogamba emphasised that there is no government policy mandating parents to buy supplies from any specific source.

“There is no policy from this ministry of government that dictates that you should buy uniforms or school utilities from a particular shop or school,” Ogamba said.

Ogamba’s plea to parents

He urged parents to report any school that imposes such requirements to the ministry’s field officers so that appropriate administrative action can be taken.

“That is why we are saying that if parents are being forced to buy uniforms or school utilities from a particular shop or person, they should report the matter to our field officers so that we can take action against those principals,” he said.

He clarified that even for items like mattresses, parents should only be advised on the required size and colour. The choice of where to purchase these items should remain entirely with the parent.

“Parents should only be informed of what is required and be free to purchase it wherever it is cheaper for them. For the mattress, you are just supposed to be told the size to buy and the colour. Where to buy from should not be dictated to you,” Ogamba noted.

Ogamba further called on parents to help identify schools or principals that continue to enforce such practices.

Violation of government policy

He also described the practice as unacceptable and reminded school administrators that forcing parents to buy from specific vendors violates government policy.

“We are asking parents to help us identify such culprits so that we can take administrative action against them. This practice is not allowed. It is not a policy of government,” he said.

A section of parents transitioning their children to grade 10 in senior secondary schools has decried cases of schools forcing them to purchase uniforms and other utilities from specific sellers, with some items being sold by the schools themselves at higher prices.

As a result, some parents have not managed to take their children to school due to the higher learning costs.

School mergers

Ogamba had earlier indicated that certain schools could be closed or merged because of low Grade 10 enrollment, emphasising the need to focus resources on institutions that draw enough students and comply with constitutional requirements.

Speaking on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, during the Elimu Mashinani forum at Lavington Primary School, the CS said the ministry is analysing data from the ongoing placement exercise to determine which schools have insufficient students and require consolidation.

“Let me start by saying the Grade nine students had a choice of 12 schools. They were to do the best of three in C1, the best of three in C2, the best of three in C3, and the best of three in C4, and the system was placing these students in the schools of their choice. In other words, if the students did not choose your school, the system would not place them in your school,” Ogamba said.