PS Omollo says 61% of learners have transitioned to senior secondary
By Cy Muganda, January 18, 2026The government has reported that 61% of eligible learners have joined Senior Secondary School, with enrolment still ongoing under Kenya’s 100 per cent school transition policy.
In a press release posted on his official X account on Sunday, January 18, 2026, Interior and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the country has recorded major gains across the basic education cycle, under the Competency-Based Education curriculum.
“A report compiled by the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) in collaboration with County Directors of Education confirms that Kenya is sustaining strong momentum on both learner access, retention and progression. The report further indicates that 61% of eligible learners have joined Senior Secondary School, noting that enrollment is ongoing,” Omollo stated.
CBE milestone
According to Omollo, 97% of learners who completed Grade 6 in 2025 successfully transitioned to Junior Secondary School (JSS), a figure he described as a major milestone in implementing the CBE progression framework.
“The Government and Parents of Kenya have recorded significant national progress in implementing the 100% School Transition Policy, with 97% of learners who completed Grade 6 in 2025 successfully transitioning to Junior Secondary School (JSS), a major milestone that demonstrates near-universal compliance with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) progression framework,” the statement read.
PS Omollo reiterated that full transition remains a national priority, stressing that education is both a human and constitutional right.
“We reaffirm the Government’s commitment to full transition as a national imperative: every child has a human and constitutional right to education, and we all should work together to avoid preventable dropouts driven by cost barriers, delayed placement, or social vulnerabilities,” the statement added.
Senior Secondary school transition
On senior secondary placement, the Principal Secretary said reporting is still ongoing, with timelines extended following concerns raised by stakeholders and families facing challenges completing placement processes.
He said the extension was aimed at ensuring inclusivity and allowing coordinated community-level interventions to reach learners who have yet to report across different counties.
“We appreciate all Kenyans who are part of our community-led interventions anchored in local accountability. We are intensifying our targeted interventions to ensure every eligible learner transitions smoothly across all pathways,” the statement read.
While describing the overall progress as strong, Omollo admitted that some barriers continue to delay the transition.
These include financial constraints, isolated cases of early pregnancies, learner absenteeism or reluctance, and placement delays arising from families seeking alternative schools.
“In response, both Government actors and parents are strengthening bursary mobilisation, counselling and re-entry support, community engagement through local leadership structures, and faster placement guidance,” the ministry noted.
PS Omollo expressed confidence that with sustained community collaboration and continued institutional coordination, the country remains firmly on track to ensure that every learner transitions, is supported, and is able to pursue their education ambitions.
“This progress reflects more than compliance, it reflects a growing national culture that recognises education as the most reliable path to productivity, opportunity and national transformation. With sustained community collaboration and continued institutional coordination, Kenya is firmly on track to secure a future where every learner transitions, every learner is supported, and every learner is seen through their education ambition,” he concluded.