The Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) Annual Conference 2025 ended on 14TH November 2025, at the Sheikh Zayed Children’s Welfare Center in Mombasa. The event drew participation from over 10,000 primary school heads from across the country.
This year’s conference was themed “The CBE Transition”, and the Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI), led by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Maurice Odondo, participated. As a management development institute, KEMI was able to showcase its programs and initiatives that support effective school leadership and institutional management. KEMI was also privileged to moderate a mid-morning session on the third day titled “Reimagining School Leadership for CBE Pathway Success.” In the moderation, KEMI emphasized the need for a shift from traditional administrative models to transformative, innovative, and collaborative leadership aligned with CBE. It emphasized that we need leaders who think differently, act differently, and lead differently. Other technical officers who flanked the CEO included Dr. Joyce Kiruma, Director Research and Consultancy, Mr. Simon Ngatia, and Mr. Stephen Choge.
The conference was officially opened by the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Education, Mr. Julius Ogamba. In his remarks, the CS expressed gratitude to primary school headteachers for their leadership, which he said has been instrumental in driving the Competency-Based Education (CBE) transition. He noted that despite initial perceptions of complexity, their dedication has enabled the first cohort of learners to successfully sit for the Grade 9 examinations this year. Mr. Ogamba also thanked the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) for its consistent role in resolving teachers’ concerns amicably and in a timely manner.
The Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Amb. Prof. Julius Bitok, also delivered a keynote address to the delegates. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving teacher welfare and school financing, noting plans to allocate 20 percent of affordable housing units to teachers, increase school capitation per learner, and double teacher promotion funds. The PS further urged school heads to verify institutional and enrolment data as required by the Office of the Auditor-General, emphasizing that accurate records are essential for the timely disbursement of capitation funds in the coming term.
Other dignitaries present at the conference included the governor of Mombasa County H.E Abdulswamad Sharrif, the chairperson of the National Assembly’s Education Committee Hon Julius Melly, The Chairperson of the Teachers Service Commission, Dr. Jamleck Muturi and the acting CEO of the TSC, Ms. Evaleen Mitei.
The conference concluded reaffirming KEPSHA’s role as a critical national platform for dialogue on educational leadership. Participants shared insights, challenges, and best practices aimed at strengthening school leadership to support successful CBE implementation.