Hard truths. Bold Insights. Real talk.
The University Statistics 2024/2025 Report by the Commission for University Education shows that a total of 14,879 international students are studying in Kenya, representing 2.4 per cent of the overall university population of 628,541.
The report highlights that out of 46,322 schools registered nationwide by the end of 2023, only 6,784 had any form of insurance, representing just 14.6 per cent. Among the insured schools, 2,018 are primary schools (29.75 per cent), 3,422 are secondary schools (50.44 per cent), while 1,344 schools could not be categorised due to incomplete insurer data.
All teachers nominated to serve must be registered in the CP2 system by September 26, 2025, and must be employed and registered with TSC. Teachers will not be allowed to serve in schools where they have worked in the past three years.
The 2024/2025 University Statistics report shows that the student-teacher ratio in public universities worsened, rising from 40.77 in 2023 to 44.36 in 2024, as enrolment climbed from 411,349 to 469,688 students.
Higher Education PS Beatrice Inyangala said institutions are pursuing a range of measures to ensure survival. These include increasing student admissions, fully utilising existing facilities, and tapping into government funding through capitation, loans, and scholarships.
The strike has been ongoing since August 20, 2025, as the lecturers demand the implementation of the return-to-work formula signed on November 30, 2024, with the University council.
Commission (PSC), the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, and the Attorney-General. The petition is rooted in the 2019 “Inter-Agency Technical Committee Report on Hardship Area Reclassification,” which Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi tabled in Parliament in March this year.
The Auditor-General’s June report revealed that between 2020 and 2024, Sh3.7 billion was lost to ghost schools and inflated enrolment records, draining resources meant for genuine learners.
The university says more than 2,000 acres of its farm land have been seized by private individuals who have even obtained documents claiming ownership, frustrating attempts to recover the property.
Staff housing was also found in poor condition, with many quarters left vacant due to lack of maintenance.
This latest standoff follows KNUT’s warning to the new TSC leadership against political interference in teachers’ employment and promotions.
The report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, tabled in Parliament, shows that 39 out of 42 universities breached the Public Finance Management (National Government) Regulations, 2015, which cap employee costs at 35 per cent of total revenue.
The legislators found the amphitheatre, whose construction started in June 2019 and was to be completed by December 2020, abandoned and in a state of stagnation.
At the same time, the school also invited applications for the pre-bar examination, which will be conducted on January 12, 2026. Interested applicants must register by December 12, 2025.
Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok explained that the delay followed a special audit by the Auditor General, which raised concerns that funds were not always reaching their intended institutions.
Vice Chancellor Professor Kiplagat Kotut has expressed confidence that the dispute can be settled, saying new talks are being organised to address the union’s grievances.
According to the TSC recruitment score sheet, science teachers are awarded 65 marks, making them far more likely to secure employment than their counterparts.
A TSC survey conducted between March and July 2022 indicated that an average of 44 teachers retire, die, or resign each day.
According to the timetable, KCSE will run from October 21 to November 21, 2025, while KJSEA, KILEA, KPLEA, and KPSEA are scheduled between October 27 and October 30, 2025.
The announcement coincides with the opening of the third term of the 2025 school calendar, which runs from August 25 to October 24.
The Universities Academic Staff Union said negotiations with the university management have collapsed, with both sides failing to agree on a way forward despite two weeks of industrial action.
The industrial action, now in its second week, has disrupted academic programs, leaving students worried about their studies and examinations.
Data shows student numbers rose from 10,000 in 2021 to over 27,000 this year after the reforms were put in place.
The debate comes after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga proposed transferring the management of primary and secondary education to counties to reduce bureaucracy and bring services closer to citizens.
Many students say they are yet to receive allocations despite the Ministry of Education releasing Sh9.46 billion through HELB on Tuesday to cater for 309,178 university students across the country.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba confirmed on Tuesday, 19 August, that Sh5.76 billion of the funds would cover tuition fees
Knut Secretary General Oyuu described the agreement with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) as a fair outcome given the economic situation
The teachers are demanding that junior schools be recognised as a distinct tier, separate from both primary and senior schools
The audit further revealed that six universities recorded operating deficits totaling Sh3.2 billion, meaning their expenditures exceeded revenue.