KISUMU, Kenya, Jan 30 – Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has assured parents and school heads that no child will be denied access to education due to lack of school fees, uniforms, or other non-government-approved levies.
Speaking during the 5th graduation ceremony at Uzima University in Kisumu, Ogamba said the government remains committed to enforcing the 100 per cent transition policy in line with the Constitution.
“We issued a directive allowing students to transition without necessarily having all the required fees or uniforms,” the CS said.
He noted that the directive had already led to improved school admissions, with transition rates rising from 92 per cent last week to 98 per cent as of Thursday.
“We intend to achieve 100 per cent by the end of today,” Ogamba added.
The CS urged school principals to admit all remaining learners, revealing that field officers have been deployed nationwide to collect data on students who are yet to report to school.
“We have instructed our officers on the ground to gather accurate data so that we can take the necessary steps to ensure our mandate and Article 53 of the Constitution are fully implemented,” he said.
Ogamba acknowledged challenges related to school uniforms and feeding programmes but called for patience from parents and school administrators as the government works on long-term solutions.
“We will resolve the issues around uniforms and school feeding,” he said. “Our children will never again be denied education because of uniforms, lunch money, or any other levies that are not provided for by the government.”
He reiterated that access to education remains a top government priority, noting that the Ministry of Education is working closely with other agencies to safeguard the rights of every learner across the country.
