ELDORET, Kenya — President William Ruto has sharply criticised attempts to politicise the national school placement process, responding to claims by his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua that learners from the Mt Kenya region are being unfairly disadvantaged.
Speaking on Thursday in Eldoret, Ruto urged leaders to keep children out of political contests ahead of the 2027 General Election, saying education should never be used as a tool for division.
“How desperate can people be? Let our children be, let our children learn. Those children are Kenyans, wherever they come from, whatever community they belong to, they are our children — the children of Kenya,” the President said.
Ruto was addressing youth during the Nyota Business Start-Up Capital Disbursement event for Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Trans Nzoia and Turkana counties, held at the Eldoret Sports Club.
His remarks followed controversial statements by Gachagua, now leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), who alleged that top schools in the Central region should prioritise learners from the area.
Speaking earlier this week during a church service, Gachagua claimed that high-performing candidates from Mt Kenya were being sent to distant and “low-quality” schools, while students from other regions were allegedly admitted to elite institutions within the region.
The comments triggered widespread backlash from government agencies, political leaders and education stakeholders.
The Ministry of Education has maintained that the placement of the 1.13 million learners transitioning to senior school is fully automated and free from ethnic or regional bias.
Officials say placements are determined strictly by students’ choices and their performance in the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).
The ministry is currently conducting the second phase of the Grade 10 placement revision exercise, allowing dissatisfied learners to apply for changes until January 9.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) also condemned suggestions that school admissions should be guided by regional or ethnic considerations, warning that such views undermine national unity and integration.
Alumni associations from Mang’u High School and Alliance High School joined the criticism, stressing that national schools belong to all Kenyans.
They said the institutions have historically admitted students from across the country and remain committed to nurturing learners based on character, discipline and academic merit, regardless of background.
Several political leaders echoed the call to keep education free from tribal politics.
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba described the politicisation of school placement as reckless, warning that classrooms should unite rather than divide the nation.
