Author: Hezron Rooy

Kenyatta University VC Grilled Over Financial Irregularities and Mismanagement. Acting Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor, Waceke Wanjohi, is under intense scrutiny due to allegations of financial mismanagement and unfair recruitment practices within the institution. Her leadership has raised concerns from both lawmakers and stakeholders. The National Assembly Public Investments Committee (PIC), chaired by Bumula MP Wanami Wamboka, summoned Wanjohi on November 21 to respond to audit queries flagged in the Auditor General’s report. During the session, lawmakers accused Wanjohi of delaying the submission of Kenyatta University’s financial statements to the Auditor General, thus obstructing the review process. Apart from the delayed…

Ministry of Education Sets Plans for Grade 10 Pathway Placement in 2026. The Ministry of Education is establishing comprehensive guidelines to ensure smooth placement of Grade 10 students into their preferred pathways when they transition to senior schools in 2026. Basic Education PS Dr. Belio Kipsang explained that students currently in Grade 8 at junior schools will choose their specialization areas in Grade 9. They will select from three pathways: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Arts, or Sports Discipline courses. He revealed that starting next year, the ministry will conduct simulations to test and refine the placement system before…

Kenyan Universities Encouraged to Offer Underwater Archaeology Courses. Kenyan universities are being encouraged to introduce underwater archaeology courses to train specialists capable of exploring the country’s extensive underwater cultural heritage. Dr. Caesar Bita, Head of Coastal Archaeology at the National Museums of Kenya, highlighted the need for local expertise in this field, noting that Kenya’s rich underwater heritage in the Indian Ocean holds immense potential for cultural tourism and foreign exchange. Dr. Bita lamented the severe shortage of underwater archaeologists in Kenya, stating that he remains the only professional in this area, having studied the discipline abroad. Although he has…

Special Needs Education (SNE): Teacher-Learner Distribution and TSC Deployment Criteria. The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring inclusivity in education, particularly for learners with special needs. The Ministry of Education outlined the current situation in special needs institutions, including enrollment numbers, teacher-pupil ratios, and ongoing measures to address teacher shortages and facility requirements. Special Needs Education: Key Statistics The Ministry of Education highlighted the current status of special needs education in Kenya: Join Teachers Updates on Facebook Teacher Deployment Criteria The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) assigns teachers to special needs schools based on three primary considerations: The standard teacher-learner…

2.2 Billion Heist: How Moi University Funneled Funds Through private Firm. A private consultancy firm implicated in a Sh2.2 billion corruption scandal at Moi University is suspected of being used by top officials to embezzle funds. The firm, associated with influential personalities, has been engaged by the university for the last seven years and allegedly facilitated fraudulent schemes in major infrastructure projects. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is probing senior university officials, including Vice-Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kosgey and the university council, for reportedly bypassing free government services offered by the Ministry of Public Works to irregularly hire the firm…

CS Ogamba Clarifies 2023 Primary School Capitation Arears, TVET Funding, and Mobility Challenges The Ministry of Education recently addressed critical concerns raised in Parliament about funding shortfalls, stalled projects, and operational inefficiencies in the education sector. Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ogamba responded to inquiries on the 2023 delayed release of primary school capitation funds, the financial challenges facing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, and the lack of transport for sub-county education directors. Hon. Basil Robert Ngui questioned the Ministry of Education regarding the delay in releasing over 22% of capitation funds to primary schools in 2023. He highlighted the…

Primary Teachers Decry JSS Job Snub, Fault TSC for Ignoring Upgraded Skills. Primary school teachers are expressing frustration with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for failing to promote them to Junior Secondary School (JSS) teaching roles, despite upgrading their qualifications. Instead, the commission has prioritized employing graduate teachers, a move that has sparked criticism. The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has voiced concerns, arguing that graduate teachers lack the necessary skills for JSS. Knut’s Secretary-General, Collins Oyuu, stated that some graduate teachers hired are unqualified for JSS and their deployment has disrupted effective learning. He pointed out that graduate…

How Treasury Blocked 45,000 TSC Teacher Promotions Hon. Omboko Milemba, the Member of Parliament for Emuhaya and the National Chairman of KUPPET, has raised concerns about the Teacher Service Commission’s (TSC) inability to carry out planned promotions. Milemba, the KIPPET National Chairman highlighted that TSC intended to promote approximately 45,000 teachers but faced budgetary constraints imposed by the Ministry of the Treasury. “The Teacher Service Commission was to do promotions of more teachers, but somewhat they have been curtailed by the Ministry of the Treasury to do what otherwise they would have done.” Join Teachers Updates on Facebook Despite the…

Education CS Ogamba Addresses Hardship Allowance Disparities for TVET Tutors and TSC-Employed Teachers. During a parliamentary session, Education CS Julius Ogamba faced tough questions from MPs, particularly regarding the allocation of hardship allowances for technical vocational education and training (TVET) tutors. MP Robert Basil, representing Yatta Constituency, raised concerns about the disparity in allowances between technical tutors and their counterparts employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). Hon. Robert Basil highlighted the issue of hardship allowances for TVET tutors in his constituency. He noted that despite technical vocational education trainers working under similar conditions to those employed by the TSC,…

KUPPET Raises Concerns Over Parent Association Election Delays. The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has voiced significant concerns regarding the delays in the holding of parent association elections across the country. These delays have raised questions about the Ministry of Education’s role in facilitating these elections, as well as the broader implications for school governance and parental involvement in educational matters. Honorable Omboko Milemba, MP for Emuhaya, posed several questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education regarding the conduct of parent association elections. He asked why the Ministry had not authorized elections for parent associations in various counties…