As approximately 1.13 million students prepare to report to senior schools tomorrow, January 12, 2026, many are facing uncertainty due to systemic failures in the online placement system. According to Elimu Bora Working Group (EBWG) The Ministry of Education’s centralized placement process has been marred by corruption, with some parents reporting demands for bribes of up to Ksh150,000 to secure placements in top-tier schools.
The placement system has also been criticized for lack of transparency, with students being placed in schools far from their homes or in pathways they didn’t choose. The Elimu Bora Working Group has demanded urgent action from the Ministry, citing inadequate infrastructure, underfunding, and inequitable access to quality education.
“Almost every pillar guaranteeing inclusive, free, quality public education has been destroyed,” said the Elimu Bora Working Group. They are calling for the Ministry to urgently address Grade 10 placement challenges, audit school infrastructure development, and ensure all schools have necessary infrastructure to deliver Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
EBWG also revealed that some students have also been placed on the wrong pathways or distant day schools, in blatant disregard for their preferences and proximity to their homes.
”The resulting public backlash led to 355,457 students applying for review of their placements by December 2025. Sadly, 143,821 students had their appeals rejected for various reasons, including overcrowding”, Said EBWG
The Ministry has opened a second review window, allowing students to revise their placements from January 6 to 9, 2026. However, many parents remain frustrated, with some being forced to move from school to school in search of solutions.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has assured parents that the Ministry is working to address the challenges, but concerns persist about the fairness and transparency of the placement process.
