The government has defended the integrity of the digital system used in the recent Grade 10 school placement exercise, dismissing claims that the process was biased or exclusionary.
In a statement on the placement outcome, Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy William Kabogo said the exercise was anchored on transparency, automation and equity, noting that technology was deliberately deployed to remove human interference.
“Governance in the digital age is rooted in transparency and data-driven equity,” Kabogo said.
He explained that the placement process was carried out through “a secure, automated system designed to eliminate human bias and ensure every Kenyan child from Mandera to Migori gets a fair shot at our top institutions.”
Kabogo rejected assertions that certain regions or communities were disadvantaged, warning that such narratives risked eroding national cohesion.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, the digital framework underpinning the placement process does not factor in geographical or regional considerations.
“Our digital systems don't recognize ‘regions’; they recognize merit and choice,” he said, adding that allegations of exclusion were misleading.
“Peddling narratives of exclusion only serves to undermine our national unity.”
The remarks come amid public debate and criticism following the release of Grade 10 placement results, with some parents and leaders questioning whether the system fairly distributed learners across national and extra-county schools.
However, Kabogo maintained that the automated approach ensured equal treatment for all candidates based on predefined criteria.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to leveraging technology to promote fairness in public service delivery, particularly in education.
“We remain committed to an inclusive Kenya where opportunity is accessible to all, not just a few,” Kabogo said.
The Cabinet Secretary urged Kenyans to support reforms aimed at strengthening digital governance, saying unity was essential as the country modernises key public systems.
“Let’s build, not divide,” he said.
The government has increasingly relied on digital platforms to manage critical national processes, arguing that automation enhances accountability, efficiency and trust.
Kabogo’s statement follows earlier claims by former Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, who is now the leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), that learners from the Mt Kenya region were being unfairly disadvantaged in the ongoing school placement exercise.
The former DP alleged that children from the region, despite posting high marks, were being sent to far-flung and 'low-quality schools', while learners from other regions were allegedly being admitted to top institutions.
“Around here, our children have been placed in small schools, yet their marks are high, while other people have been brought to our schools,” Gachagua said.
