NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 2 — The Kenya Comprehensive School Heads Association (KECSHA) says it has not received any formal reports of corruption or malpractice in the ongoing placement of Grade 10 learners into senior secondary schools.
The disclosure is contained in a letter addressed to Principal Secretary for Basic Education Julius Bitok, amid heightened public scrutiny over governance and accountability in the education sector.
In the correspondence dated January 29, 2026, KECSHA Chairperson Fuad Ali Abdalla said that, as of the date of the response, no formal complaints or documented allegations had been submitted by school heads, parents or guardians regarding irregularities in the placement process under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework.
“We wish to inform the Ministry that as at the date of this response, KECSHA has not received any formal complaints, reports or documented allegations from school heads, parents or guardians relating to corruption or irregularities in the placement of Grade 10 learners into senior school,” the association said.
KECSHA, however, acknowledged that the Grade 10 placement exercise presents several operational challenges. These include limited public understanding of placement criteria, high demand for specialised pathways in select schools, perceived misalignment between learner interests and available options, and inadequate real-time communication channels to address placement concerns.
To strengthen the process, the association proposed enhanced public sensitisation on placement criteria and available pathways well ahead of the exercise, transparent communication on placement outcomes and appeals mechanisms, and improved digital systems with clear audit trails to minimise human discretion.
Fair transition
KECSHA reiterated its commitment to working closely with the Ministry of Education to ensure a fair, transparent and learner-centred transition into senior secondary schools.
The letter comes against the backdrop of a broader public debate on integrity and accountability in the education sector.
On January 29, the Ministry of Education launched an online platform allowing parents, guardians and other stakeholders to report alleged cases of corruption in the Grade 10 placement process. The portal is scheduled to remain open until Monday, February 2, 2026.
Bitok said all submissions would be treated with strict confidentiality, adding that “upholding integrity and accountability in basic education remains a personal priority.”
The move followed criticism from National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who accused the PS of being “out of touch with realities on the ground.”
Ichung’wah cited concerns including teacher deployment imbalances, arbitrary school fees and uneven resource allocation across schools as indicators of weak oversight.
