Author: Hezron Rooy

University of Nairobi (UoN) Fires Vice Chancellor (VC) Stephen Kiama. The University of Nairobi has removed its embattled Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Gitahi Kiama, after a turbulent four-year tenure. Kiama’s leadership, set to expire on January 5, 2025, was cut short months before his contract’s conclusion, following a year-long internal struggle. The dismissal took effect on September 27, with the University Council, led by its chairman, Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, announcing the decision on October 14. According to the council, the reasons for Kiama’s removal were immediately communicated to him. He had been serving as the university’s eighth Vice-Chancellor since his…

Public Schools Signal Early Closure Due to Funding Shortages. Heads of public secondary schools in Kericho County have indicated the possibility of closing schools earlier than scheduled due to severe financial constraints. The administrators noted that many schools are currently struggling to cover operational costs, with some institutions unable to pay their staff or settle bills with suppliers. Robert Korir, a representative from Ainamoi Secondary School, raised concerns about the recent reduction in government capitation for schools, which has been slashed from Ksh22,224 to Ksh11,342. He reported that the original amount had been sufficient to cover a full year of…

850,000 Learners Out of School in North Eastern Kenya. Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties in Kenya have 851,045 school-aged children out of school, as highlighted by Members of Parliament (MPs) from the North Eastern region. The MPs, convened under the North Eastern Parliamentary Group caucus, expressed concern over the state of education in the region during a meeting held in Mombasa. They noted that while the rest of the country has made significant progress in education, the northern region lags behind. The MPs pointed out various challenges undermining education in the region, including poor infrastructure, a shortage of qualified teachers,…

Parents Withdraw Students, Demands Headteacher’s Transfer Over Neglect and Farming at School. Parents at Kianjogu Primary School in Laikipia County are seeking the immediate removal of the school’s headteacher, citing issues with poor management, safety risks, and declining educational performance. They expressed frustration over what they perceive as the Ministry of Education’s inaction, despite their protests continuing for the past three weeks. In an effort to address the ongoing concerns, some parents have resorted to withdrawing their children from the school and seeking alternative institutions. A parent, Zelipha Wakini, alleged that the headteacher has neglected her professional duties, spending more…

Grieving Parents Demand Investigation into Daughter’s Death, Barred from St. Angela’s Girls. A family from Mutunguni, Kitui County, is seeking justice following the mysterious death of their daughter, a Form Two student at St. Angela’s Girls’ Kitui. The family, struggling to come to terms with the incident, went to the school on Monday, hoping to find answers. However, they were met with resistance, as the school administration did not grant them access to the premises, leaving them to camp outside the gate all day without receiving any information. The family expressed frustration over the lack of transparency from the school’s…

Kenya to Establish Exam Centre for Professional Certification of KMTC Graduates. The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) is making significant strides to support Kenyan health practitioners seeking employment abroad. The institution’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kelly Oluoch, announced the establishment of a new examination center in partnership with various stakeholders, marking the second such facility in Africa after South Africa’s. This development aims to reduce the costs medical professionals incur when undertaking mandatory exams for international job opportunities. As part of KMTC’s 2023-2027 strategic plan, the new examination center will facilitate access to job markets in countries such as the…

KNUT Pushes for New Teachers’ CBA: Key Demands for 2025-2029. The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), led by Secretary General Collins Oyuu, is preparing a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the 2025-2029 period. The proposed CBA addresses several urgent issues impacting teachers, emphasizing the need for the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to take action for the benefit of both educators and learners. During the 62nd annual general meeting of the KNUT Kitui branch, held at the Kitui Multi-Purpose Centre, Oyuu outlined the union’s primary demands. He specified the confirmation of 46,000 intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms…

Education stakeholders Call for Restructuring of School Management Boards. Education stakeholders in the North Rift region have raised concerns about the management of schools and are calling for the restructuring of school management boards across the country. Led by former Chesumei Member of Parliament Wilson Kogo, the stakeholders believe that reforming the boards will improve the day-to-day operations of educational institutions. Kogo noted during an event in Kapsabet town that several schools had failed to achieve significant development despite receiving funds, attributing this shortfall to mismanagement issues. The Need for Qualified Professionals on Boards Kogo, who once served on the…

Governor Wamatangi Opens 109 New ECDE Centres , 130 More Under Construction Kiambu County recently saw a significant milestone in education as Governor Kimani Wamatangi inaugurated 109 newly built Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres. The launch, held at Gitiha ECDE Centre in Githiga Ward, Githunguri Sub-County, marks a new chapter in the county’s commitment to early childhood education. In addition to these newly opened centres, the county has commenced construction on 130 more, further expanding access to quality education. Governor Wamatangi noted that the newly constructed ECDE centres signify a revitalization of a long-overlooked sector that has faced years…

42-Year-Old Woman Earns a Degree After 24 Years of Perseverance. Kezziah Muchiri, now 42, first took the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2000, but a mix of financial hardship, illness, inadequate government support, and other life challenges delayed her academic progress. Last week, after years of persistence, she finally graduated from Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) with a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) degree. Her achievement marked the culmination of a journey spanning 24 years. Kezziah’s father and four siblings traveled from Kandara, Murang’a, to celebrate her achievement, aware of the many obstacles she had faced. Her…