Education CS Julius Ogamba warns teachers against sending students home, saying any educator who turns away a child over unpaid fees or other home issues should pack up and head home themselves. In a stern message that’s got parents and school heads buzzing across Kenya, Ogamba made it clear during a recent address in Kisii that the government won’t stand for kids being denied their right to learn just because of family hardships.
It hits close to home for so many families right now. Schools reopened just weeks ago for the new term, and already stories are popping up from places like Nairobi slums to rural spots in Kisii and Nyamira – kids showing up excited for Grade 10 under the new CBC system, only to be told to go back because fees aren’t settled or uniforms aren’t perfect.
Ogamba, who’s been on a roll pushing for smooth transitions this year, lost his cool a bit in that speech. “Mwalimu yeyote mwenye atarudisha mtoto nyumbani, pia yeye aende nyumbani,” he said bluntly. “Hatutakubali watoto wetu wasumbuliwe wasisome sababu ya shida ya kutoka nyumbani!” Translation: No more disturbing our children from studying over problems from home.
Parents I’ve talked to over the years nod along hard. One mama from Mathare, juggling three kids in public school, told me last week how heartbreaking it is to scrape together bus fare only for the little one to come back teary-eyed.
“Hii ni shule ya serikali, si ya biashara,” she said – this is a government school, not a business. Ogamba’s warning echoes that sentiment, part of his bigger push to make sure every child gets a fair shot under the Competency-Based Curriculum.
He’s been crisscrossing counties, inspecting classrooms and chatting with headteachers, reminding them that capitation funds are on the way from Treasury. Delays happen every January, but this year, with inflation biting and floods from last season still hurting farms, families are stretched thinner than ever.
The CS isn’t just talking tough; there’s bite behind it. Last month, his ministry sent out circulars to all schools, banning extra levies and threatening action against principals who ignore the rules. In a follow-up in Embu, he cautioned that blocking Grade 10 admissions could cost jobs.
“We’re working day and night to release those funds,” he assured, urging schools to find other ways to chase arrears – maybe payment plans or community support. It’s a nod to the reality: over 3 million kids rely on free secondary education, but hidden costs like books or building funds sneak in and send thousands packing.
Teachers’ unions aren’t thrilled, though. KNUT’s Collins Oyuu fired back in a statement, saying heads are caught between a rock and a hard place – no cash means no supplies, no meals for boarders. “We can’t run schools on promises,” he grumbled during a presser in Nairobi.
But Ogamba’s camp points to successes: last term, capitation hit 95% of schools on time, and enrolment jumped in junior secondary. In Kisii, where Ogamba hails from, locals say his tough love is working – fewer send-homes were reported this January compared to last.
This isn’t Ogamba’s first rodeo with school drama. Appointed in mid-2024 after the Gen Z protests shook up Cabinet, he’s tackled everything from teacher strikes to fake exam papers. His style’s straightforward – no frills, just results. Remember when he dismissed that viral fake letter claiming unis would shut till 2026? Quick and firm.
Now, with 2026 kicking off and elections on the horizon next year, education’s a hot button. Ruto’s administration bets big on CBC to churn out skilled youth for jobs in tech and manufacturing. But if kids are bouncing between home and school gates, that vision fizzles.
For the kids themselves, it’s more than politics. A Form One boy in Mombasa shared with me how being sent home last year made him miss two weeks, falling behind in maths. “I just want to learn,” he said simply. He’s even floated ideas like school feeding boosts and bursary reforms to ease the load on parents. As term one rolls on, eyes are on how schools respond. Will heads heed the call, or risk the boot? Parents hope so; unions push for faster funds.