On September 2, 2025, Narok County had the honor of hosting the first-ever Elimu Mashinani Stakeholders Forum. The program, organized by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI) and Citizen TV, seeks to promote inclusive dialogue on key education issues affecting learners, teachers, parents, and communities across Kenya.
The inaugural edition of this nationwide education engagement platform was held at Maasai Mara University. The forum was graced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Dr. Julius Migos Ogamba, alongside Principal Secretaries Amb. Prof. Julius Bitok (Basic Education), Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala (Higher Education), and Dr. Esther Muoria (TVET).
The event attracted an impressive turnout of over 400 participants, including CEOs from KEMI, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD); directors from the Ministry of Education; the Narok County Deputy Governor; the County Commissioner; and representatives from the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA), the Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association (KEPSHA), gender activists, community leaders, and students.
In his opening remarks, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Dr. Julius Migos Ogamba, announced that the Ministry had finalized preparations for the transition of learners from Grade 9 to Grade 10 under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework. He added that the school and subject pathway selection process was underway, with learners set to join Grade 10 in January 2026.
Amb. Prof. Julius Bitok, Principal Secretary for Basic Education, confirmed that the first batch of capitation funds had already been released. He emphasized accountability, noting that the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS) would ensure that funding aligns with accurate learner and school data.
In her remarks, Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, Principal Secretary for Higher Education, observed that the forum coincided with the admission period for first-year university students. She noted that approximately 73% of new students had already reported to their respective institutions nationwide and projected that the number would rise to about 80% within two weeks as admissions concluded.
Dr. Esther Muoria, Principal Secretary for TVET, expressed satisfaction with the growing positive attitude among Kenyans toward technical and vocational education. She commended the government’s continued commitment to funding TVET institutions, noting that this has enhanced both enrollment and training quality.
Stakeholders from Narok raised several concerns, including the poor state of school infrastructure and the lack of electricity, which hampers ICT and digital learning. They also highlighted challenges with the school feeding program, particularly for younger learners who travel long distances to access meals. Delays in the disbursement of capitation funds to schools were also cited as a major concern.
In response, Dr. Ogamba assured participants that plans to streamline the national school feeding program were already underway and that significant improvements would be realized in the coming year. On the issue of electricity, he emphasized that a multi-sectoral collaboration between the Ministries of Education, ICT, and Energy was in place to ensure schools are connected to the national grid and equipped with the necessary ICT infrastructure.
Addressing the issue of delayed capitation funds, Amb. Prof. Julius Bitok explained that the verification of school and learner data is a critical step in the disbursement process, which may sometimes cause delays. He urged schools and stakeholders to keep their data up to date and ensure bank account details are properly registered to facilitate timely funding.
The Narok forum marked the beginning of a nationwide conversation aimed at bridging education policy with ground-level realities, ensuring that community voices play a central role in shaping the future of Kenya’s education system.
Elimu Mashinani mission is to visit all counties, ensuring that local perspectives are captured and integrated into the development of responsive, inclusive, and context-driven education policies.
“Elimu Mashinani provides a platform for people to speak to education policy.it ensures that the reforms we make are informed by real experiences in schools and communities” Prof. Julius Bitok, PS Basic Education (2025)