Ruto addresses senior school transition fears after KJSEA results
By Mustafa Juma, December 28, 2025President William Ruto has reassured Kenyan parents and students that every child will have the opportunity to join senior school in January, following concerns after the release of the 2025 Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) results.
Speaking on Sunday, December 28, 2025, during a church service at the Covenant Church International (CCI), Narok County, as it marked its 20th anniversary, Ruto emphasised that the government has released Ksh44 billion to ensure smooth placement and funding for all students.
The Head of State further warned that political interference will not be tolerated in the education sector.
“I want to tell those people who are introducing small politics and unnecessary propaganda into the education of our children, I am telling them to keep off. Watu ambao wako na siasa na fitina ndogo ndogo, madalali wa siasa bure, wanataka kuingiza watoto wetu kwa siasa ambayo haina maana, nataka niwaeleze watafute mahali pengine ya kupeleka siasa,” Ruto said.
Ruto went ahead to give an assurance that the released funds will reach the schools before the children report in January 2026.
School capitation
The first in command also clarified that school capitation has not been reduced as widely reported, blaming politicians for misleading the public with what he has termed as propaganda.
“Watoto wa Kenya wote, milioni moja, laki moja na elfu thelathini, watapata nafasi ya kwenda katika Senior School, January. Tumetoa pesa kama serikali, bilioni arubaini na nne, na pesa hiyo itakuwa shuleni kabla ya watoto kufika. Na hakuna pesa imepunguzwa ya kusomesha watoto wetu. Hawa watu wanaongea ongea hapa wapeleke siasa mbali. Watoto wa Kenya ni watoto wetu na tumefanya reform ya kutosha,” he said.
Fees for grade 10 learners
Under the revised structure, former national schools, now classified as C1 institutions, will charge Ksh53,554 per year.
Extra-county schools, reclassified as C2, will charge Ksh45,054 annually, while County schools, now referred to as C3 institutions, will charge Ksh40,035 per year.
Learners admitted to C4 schools, previously sub-county schools, will continue to benefit from free secondary education, with no tuition fees payable.
The transition to senior school will officially take place in January 2026, marking a major milestone in the implementation of Competency-Based Education (CBE).
Learners will undertake a three-year senior school cycle covering Grades 10, 11, and 12. Each learner will study seven subjects, including four compulsory core areas: English, Kiswahili, Core or Essential Mathematics, and Community Service Learning, alongside three elective subjects aligned to individual career pathways.