Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed on Wednesday that the last group of 79 injured girls, who had been receiving treatment in various hospitals including Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, have fully recovered and been allowed to go home.
By Bradley BosireEducation CS Julius Ogamba said 270,000 candidates qualified for direct university entry after attaining grade C+ and above.
By Samuel OtienoCS Ogamba acknowledged that the recent strike by university staff, though disruptive, brought attention to valid concerns over delayed salary payments and contract implementation.
By Maureen KinyanjuiLearners were examined across nine learning areas: English; Kiswahili or Kenyan Sign Language; Mathematics; Integrated Science; Agriculture and Nutrition; Social Studies; Religious Education (CRE, IRE or HRE); Creative Arts and Sports; and Pre-Technical Studies.
By Bradley BosireNationally, the ministry’s data showed that 642,620 learners, representing 56.84 per cent of the total, were within the recommended age range of 14 to 15 years. Overall, 1,130,459 learners participated in the 2025 KJSEA, a key milestone in implementing the competency-based curriculum. Of these, 578,630 were male and 551,829 female, making up 51.19 per cent and 48.81 per cent respectively.
By Maureen KinyanjuiReleasing the 2025 KJSEA results, Ogamba said the ministry was satisfied with how the assessments were carried out across the country, noting that teams on the ground acted quickly whenever challenges arose.
By Maureen KinyanjuiAccording to the ministry’s figures, 642,620 learners — 56.84 per cent — were within the recommended age of 14 to 15 years, which Ogamba said showed better alignment between learner age and their level of study.
By Bradley BosireAnnouncing the inaugural Grade 9 results at the Kenya National Examination Council headquarters in Nairobi, Ogamba said female learners met or exceeded expectations in 10 of the 12 subjects assessed.
By Bradley BosireCS Ogamba confirmed that while most centres observed the rules, cases of cheating were still reported and are being processed by investigators in line with the KNEC Act of 2012.
By Maureen KinyanjuiAccording to the Ministry of Education, 44,495 schools have so far been cleared after submitting verifiable information. At the same time, the audit has already uncovered 87,000 ghost learners and identified 10 schools in 10 counties that have no learners at all, raising fresh questions about how nearly Sh1 billion in capitation was previously released without proper checks.
By Bradley BosireOgamba thanked candidates, teachers, security officers and members of the public for supporting the exercise so far. He urged Kenyans to stay alert and report any suspicious behaviour using KNEC’s toll-free numbers 0800721410 and 0800724900. Cases involving police misconduct can be reported to IPOA through toll-free line 1559.
By Bradley BosireOgamba also outlined measures to secure the movement of exam materials. Working with the Ministry of Interior and disaster management teams, the ministry has set up temporary collection points, deployed officers along key routes, and ensured papers reach their destinations on time, with extra precautions in flood-prone areas.
By Maureen KinyanjuiAccording to the report, 16,788 schools with 4.29 million learners received Sh1.22 billion after full verification. Another 3,979 schools with smaller enrolments—below 90 learners—also qualified for full payment amounting to Sh66.8 million. However, 3,065 schools that failed to submit accurate data were given only 50 per cent of their allocation, translating to Sh79.7 million for 280,900 learners based on data from the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS).
By Maureen KinyanjuiMPs expressed dissatisfaction with the explanation, accusing the CS of being reluctant to act against corruption in his ministry. Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo criticised Ogamba for what she described as inaction and lack of urgency in handling the matter.
By Maureen KinyanjuiAccording to the deal, Sh3.88 billion will be released by December 31, 2025, while the remaining Sh3.88 billion will be paid by July 2026. A separate framework for talks on the 2025–2029 CBA will also be finalised within a month, marking a step towards resolving long-standing pay disputes in the university sector.
By Maureen KinyanjuiAccording to Ogamba, the government has already paid Sh4.3 billion as the first part of the 2021–2025 CBA and an additional Sh2.73 billion as the second part. He said the remaining Sh2.73 billion is set to be cleared in the coming financial year as originally planned.
By Maureen KinyanjuiDuring his visit to Litein Boys’ High School in Kericho County on Monday, Ogamba said the Ministry of Education would not allocate public funds to rebuild infrastructure ruined by learners, warning that parents would shoulder the cost to discourage similar unrest in future.
By Maureen KinyanjuiAccording to the Ministry, Term One for all pre-primary, primary, junior, senior, and secondary schools will run for 13 weeks from January 5 to April 2, 2026.
By Rose AchiengNational Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula instructed Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah to ensure Ogamba appears before the House to respond to questions raised by lawmakers.
By Maureen KinyanjuiCS Ogamba confirmed that the Office of the Auditor-General had discovered anomalies in the distribution of capitation, including payments to schools that do not exist.
By Rose AchiengLecturers under the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) staged a march outside the University of Nairobi on Wednesday, reiterating their demand for the full Sh7.9 billion owed under the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and pressing for talks on the 2025–2029 CBA.
By Maureen KinyanjuiEducation Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on Wednesday said the directive is aimed at protecting children and ensuring compliance with established school schedules.
By Maureen KinyanjuiGilgil MP Martha Wangari sought a statement from Education CS Julius Migos Ogamba on measures being taken to resolve the stalemate between the Government and university staff unions.
By Rose AchiengCS Ogamba said the ministry has uncovered serious irregularities through an ongoing national audit of learners and schools, which is 75 per cent complete. He revealed that about 50,000 students listed in the system do not actually exist, adding that more discrepancies are still being uncovered.
By Ann NyamburaPrincipal Secretary for Basic Education, Professor Julius Bitok, reaffirmed that no student involved in property destruction will go unpunished.
By Ann NyamburaEducation Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba told the Senate on Wednesday that the reforms aim to enhance school independence, address staffing concerns, and refine the JSS structural framework.
By Rose AchiengAppearing before the Senate, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba maintained that the government only owes lecturers Sh624 million, disputing the lecturers’ claim that the figure stands at Sh7.9 billion.
By Rose AchiengThe changes affect key councils and boards that oversee national examinations, special education, biosafety, teacher training and legal education.
By Maureen KinyanjuiOgamba noted that despite the government hiring 76,000 teachers in recent years and planning to employ another 24,000 by December 2025, the problem of staffing schools in remote and insecure areas continues.
By Rose AchiengCS Ogamba said the government was ready for constructive dialogue with the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and other unions but insisted that the strike must first be called off.
By Maureen Kinyanjui