President Orders School Return Without Fees
President William Ruto has made it clear that no child should be left at home simply because their family can’t afford school fees or uniforms. This comes as we see ongoing challenges in helping students transition from Junior Secondary School (JSS) to senior secondary school.
All Grade 10 students were officially expected to show up at their designated senior schools by Monday, January 12, 2026. Unfortunately, many of them couldn’t make it on time due to the financial struggles their parents and guardians are facing.
During the NYOTA Capital disbursement event at Kinoru Stadium in Meru County on Thursday, January 22, 2026, Ruto urged chiefs, education officers, and all those involved in education to make sure that every student heads back to school right away. He emphasized that the government has allocated enough funds to support learning for the first term, insisting that no child should be kept out of school due to fees or uniforms.
“We have been informed that many children have not gone to school because parents do not have money to pay school fees or to buy uniforms. I want to instruct every chief that every child must be taken to school. If a child has a JSS uniform, they can use that same uniform to attend secondary school as they wait for their parents to get money. No Kenyan child should stay at home because of a uniform,” Ruto declared.
The President pointed out that many kids are staying home because their parents can’t afford school fees and uniforms, especially when moving from Junior Secondary School (JSS) to senior secondary school. He urged schools to let students attend classes even if they don’t have a complete uniform or the necessary fees, mentioning that they can temporarily wear their JSS uniforms while their parents look for funds for new ones.
Ruto highlighted that the government has allocated Ksh44 billion for education, claiming that this amount is sufficient to support learning in the first term. He instructed schools not to turn away students and stressed the importance of collaboration among education stakeholders to ensure that every child has the opportunity to be in school.
“I am directing all education stakeholders that no child should remain at home. We have released KSh 44 billion, and there are sufficient funds for our children to be taught in the first term. Every child must report to school tomorrow, with or without a uniform, and with or without school fees,” The President said.
The shift from Junior Secondary School to senior secondary school has brought a host of challenges for parents. Many are finding it tough to manage the expenses of new uniforms, boarding fees, transportation, and learning materials. This financial strain has only intensified due to the rising cost of living, leaving some families struggling to meet school requirements on time.
Additionally, parents and school administrators have voiced concerns about delays in government funding, which have disrupted school operations. As a result, some institutions are turning to parents to help cover essential costs like meals and learning resources.
President Orders School Return Without Fees
