Parents dig deep into their pockets as Grade 10 admissions kick off
By Enock Amukhale, January 12, 2026Parents with children joining grade 10 in senior secondary schools are forced to dig deeper into their dry pockets as admissions kick off on Monday, January 12, 2025.
Parents are forced to buy all the necessary school items, whose cost is very high, besides paying half of the school fees, which is mandatory.
Parents with students joining boarding schools who spoke to the press said the cost of admitting students to grade 10 is very high.
“Parents with students joining National schools are feeling the weight of admitting students. The cost of buying items required before the student is admitted is high.
“Uniforms and other required items have their prices eating too much into our pockets. The parent is supposed to pay half of the total school fees,” decried Philip Otako, a parent taking his child to national school.
A spot check by K24 Digital has revealed that many students are flocking to the schools of their choice for admission.
In many schools, parents started streaming in as early as 6:30 am with their children, ready to get admitted.
Many schools seem to be well prepared to receive their grade 10 students.
The schools had set the admission desks ready for the task.
At Ebusakami Girls High School, the school Principal, Dorcus Mbaluka, was ready to receive the new grade 10 students.
“We are ready to receive our newborn babies, the grade 10 students. Let parents not worry because everything is in order,” Mbalika stated.
School Capitation released
The Ministry of Education, via its Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, earlier confirmed that capitation money for Term One of the 2026 academic year has already been released to school accounts.
Through an official statement shared on Friday, January 2, 2026, the Education Ministry announced that Ksh44 billion had been disbursed to support learning in public basic education institutions as schools prepare to reopen after the festive season.
According to the statement, all basic education institutions are set to reopen on Monday, January 5, 2026, with ministry field officers tasked with ensuring full compliance with the academic calendar across the country.
“The Government has today released Ksh44,245,066,500.85 as capitation for Term One for learners in all public basic education institutions,” the statement said in part.
The ministry explained that the funds have been distributed across different levels of basic education to ensure smooth learning activities.
Free primary education received Ksh3.7 billion, free day junior school education was allocated Ksh14.4 billion, while free day secondary education received the largest share of Ksh26 billion.