Author: Hezron Rooy

Survey: 94.7% of Schools Connected to Power, 35.3% With Active Internet Connections. The integration of Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) in education is vital for creating an inclusive and effective learning environment. In light of this, the Elimu Yetu Coalition conducted a survey in ten counties across Kenya to assess the state of school digital ecosystems, revealing key findings on power connectivity, internet access, and ICT infrastructure in public primary schools. The survey, titled Understanding School Digital Ecosystem in 10 Counties in Kenya, was a collaborative effort under the GIZ Generation Digital project. It targeted 1,000 public primary schools, with…

EACC Investigates Ksh 2.6B Fraud, Irregular Graduation at Jaramogi University. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has launched a probe into allegations of a Ksh 2.6 billion fraud scheme at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology. According to EACC spokesperson Erick Ngumbi, the university’s officials are suspected of collaborating with consultants and contractors to embezzle funds meant for incomplete capital projects. Despite full disbursement of funds, none of the six projects in question have been completed. Ngumbi expressed concern over these irregularities during the burial of Mama Joyce Oginde, mother of EACC Chairperson Bishop David Oginde, in Ugenya…

KUPPET Seeks 100% Salary Increment for Classroom Teachers. The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) national leaders have reiterated their unwavering commitment to advocating for a salary increase for teachers. During the Baringo Branch General Assembly (BGA) held in Kabarnet town, union Assistant National Treasurer Ronald Tonui and National Secretary in charge of Tertiary Institutions Sammy Chelang’a led a meeting with officials from various branches. They called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to expedite a 100 percent salary increment, particularly for classroom teachers. Tonui emphasized that while TSC improved the salaries of administrators in 2016, there remains…

Moi University Crisis Deepens as Staff Reject UASU-Government Deal, Strike Enters Third Month. Learning at Moi University has remained at a standstill as lecturers and workers vowed to continue their strike. This comes despite the government reaching a return-to-work formula with the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) for the national strike. Staff Stand Firm on Local Demands University staff stated that their strike would persist as the institution has yet to address their specific grievances. The Secretary-General of UASU’s Moi University chapter, Busolo Wekesa, clarified that the national strike agreement did not resolve their local concerns. He explained that the…

Grieving Family Blames School for KCSE Candidate’s Death Days Before Finishing Exams. A family in Kisii County is devastated following the untimely death of their 18-year-old daughter, Beryl Nyaboke, a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidate at Ogande Girls High School in Homa Bay. Nyaboke’s death occurred just days before she was set to complete her exams. Nyaboke had written most of her KCSE papers when she reportedly fell ill. Her condition quickly deteriorated, prompting her transfer to Homa Bay Hospital for treatment. At the hospital, her grandmother found her unconscious in bed and unable to communicate. The mother…

Education CS Ogamba Addresses Extra Levies and Uniform Costs in Schools. The government has reassured it’s dedication to ensuring a 100% transition of students to high school. It supports this initiative by providing capitation funds for each student. However, it has been reported that some schools impose additional levies, ranging from Ksh 6,000 to Ksh 12,000, purportedly to cover costs such as food. These charges are mandatory, forcing students to pay whether they consume the food or not. Consequently, many students are sent home and risk dropping out due to the inability to meet these financial demands. The additional levies…

TSC to Confirm Over 3,300 Acting School Heads as January Teacher Promotions Receive Sh1 Billion Boost. Starting January, more than 3,300 school heads and deputies serving in acting capacities will be confirmed in their roles, following the government’s allocation of Sh1 billion for teacher promotions. This initiative aims to address stagnation among teachers who have remained in the same job groups for extended periods, a concern consistently raised by unions. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) agreed to use the allocated funds to fill critical administrative roles in primary and secondary schools. During…

Flaws in University Funding Model Under Review, Says CS Ogamba Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has restated the government’s dedication to addressing the issues plaguing Kenya’s higher education system. During a meeting with the National Working Committee on the Review of the New University Education Funding Model, the CS acknowledged that the funding framework, introduced in 2023, has encountered significant hurdles in its implementation. The Cabinet Secretary emphasized that the new funding approach has not achieved the desired results, which necessitates urgent interventions. He underscored the government’s proactive stance in tackling these issues rather than contributing to the problems.…

Moi University Students in Limbo as Nairobi Campus Faces Closure. Moi University, grappling with severe financial challenges, may shut down its Nairobi campus as part of a government rescue strategy. Beatrice Inyangala, the Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research, informed the National Assembly’s Education Committee that closing the campus is among the proposals to reduce operational costs. She highlighted that the closure could save the university up to Sh50 million annually, a critical step toward resolving its financial struggles. However, she did not clarify whether the proposal had been adopted or was still under discussion. If implemented, the move…

Education CS Ogamba Reaffirms Support for Teachers’ Welfare and Staffing. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migosi Ogamba has pledged a commitment to empowering teachers and educators through comprehensive measures that include adequate recruitment, effective training, professional qualifications, motivation, and support. Ogamba emphasized the importance of ensuring qualified and motivated teachers operate in safe environments with access to necessary tools, resources, and proper working conditions. He noted that the right to education mandates the recruitment and retention of such educators, who must also receive fair remuneration. To achieve these objectives, Ogamba revealed that the government is implementing strategies such as competitive remuneration…