Murkomen Deploys Chiefs in Nationwide Push to Enrol All Grade 10 Learners

By Brian Kiprono - Reporter

Kenya, 21 January 2024 - Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said the government is intensifying efforts to ensure all learners eligible for Grade 10 are enrolled in school, as thousands of children remain at home weeks into the academic year.

Speaking during a media briefing in Kisumu, Murkomen noted that the national transition rate currently stands at about 70%, leaving a significant number of learners yet to move on to secondary education.

He said the government is working closely with the Ministry of Education to trace and support students who have not reported to school, citing a coordinated approach that brings together national administrators, education officials and local communities.

“Some learners are still at home due to challenges such as school fees, lack of placement or other personal difficulties,” Murkomen said, adding that these barriers are being addressed through targeted interventions.

As part of the strategy, chiefs, assistant chiefs and other National Government Administration Officers have been directed to identify children who have not enrolled and help facilitate their return to school. Murkomen said local administrators are also advising parents facing financial strain on where to access support, including bursaries under the Constituency Development Fund.

He pointed out that fees in most day secondary schools average about Sh10,000 annually, noting that existing government programmes and community support systems are meant to ease the burden on families.

Murkomen also urged parents and learners to consider nearby schools, especially where students did not secure placement in their preferred or more expensive institutions. He said enrolling in local schools can help ensure continuity in learning while longer-term solutions are explored.

According to the CS, administrators at the grassroots are mobilising communities to support full transition, emphasising that education is a shared responsibility.

“The transition exercise is still ongoing,” Murkomen said, adding that his ministry will continue working with the Ministry of Education to deploy the necessary administrative and support resources to bring all eligible learners into Grade 10 during the current academic year.

He called on parents, community leaders and local administrators to work together to ensure no child is left behind, stressing that access to secondary education remains a key priority for the government.