President William Ruto has announced that police officers will no longer be involved in the management of national examinations, saying tests should not be treated as matters of life and death.
The President said the move aligns with ongoing education reforms aimed at reducing pressure on learners and creating a more supportive learning environment. He argued that examinations are part of the learning process and should not be handled as security operations.
“Exams are part of learning. They must not be a life-and-death issue,” Ruto said.
He explained that the withdrawal of police from exam administration is consistent with reforms under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, which shifts focus away from high-stakes examinations toward continuous assessment and holistic learner development.
Ruto noted that the country has successfully managed key transitions under the new education structure, including the shift from primary to junior school and, this month, from junior to senior secondary school. He said these milestones demonstrate that the education system is stabilising under the reforms.
The President also defended the government’s Sh44 billion capitation allocation to the education sector, stating that funds for teaching and learning materials have already been released. He said schools have the necessary facilities and resources to operate effectively.
“With these resources available, there is no justification for children being locked out of school,” Ruto said.
“If we have provided money for teaching, paid teachers and built classrooms, there is no reason anyone should keep our children out of school.”
He reiterated his directive that all school-going children must remain in class, stressing that access to education is a constitutional right. The President warned school administrators against imposing administrative or financial barriers that deny learners that right.
Ruto said the government remains committed to ensuring smooth transitions across all levels of learning as the new education system takes root.
At the same time, he raised concerns over growing corruption linked to school uniforms, warning that the escalating cost of uniforms is placing an unfair burden on parents. He cited reports of some schools allegedly charging as much as Sh38,000 for uniforms.
“We will look into the uniform issue. Uniforms are beginning to become another source of corruption,” he said.
In a firm directive, the President stated that no child should be denied access to education due to lack of a school uniform. He allowed flexibility for learners transitioning between levels, saying students may temporarily retain their previous uniforms as parents make arrangements.
“I have directed that no child will be kept out of class because of uniform. Even if they have a junior school uniform, they can report to secondary school with it as they wait for parents to organise themselves,” Ruto said.
The Head of State added that the government will work closely with education partners to eliminate unnecessary obstacles to schooling and warned against the introduction of extra requirements that make education unaffordable or inaccessible.
