REPUBLIC OF KENYA

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

 OFFICE OF THE CABINET SECRETARY

PRESS STATEMENT 

For Immediate Release

2^nd January, 2026

ACADEMIC YEAR 2026 COMMENCEMENT UPDATE 

Following the end of the Christmas and New Year festivities, basic education institutions are shortly set to commence the 2026 Academic Year. This statement highlights the following key issues as we embark on the new Academic Year:

(a) Re-opening for Term One, 2025

All basic education schools are expected to re-open for the new term on Monday, 5^th January, 2026. The Ministry’s field officers, under the guidance of the Regional Directors of Education and the County Directors of Education, will monitor adherence to the academic calendar as schools re-open.

(b) Placements for Grade 10 of Senior School

The first revision of placements to Grade 10 of Senior School was completed on 29^th December, 2025. Joining instructions for learners already placed have been accessible on the placement portal (www.placement.education.go.ke) effective 30^th December, 2025.

As earlier indicated, interested learners will have a further opportunity to apply for review of their placement from 6^th January, 2026, to9^th January, 2026.

The revision will provide parents, guardians and learners the opportunity to provide legitimate and verifiable grounds to justify a reconsideration of the initial or revised placement. 

In order to ensure unhindered access to education and enhance optimal utilization of available resources while addressing genuine outstanding placement needs, requests for further review may be initiated through the learner’s Junior School or at the Senior School of interest. The requests shall be submitted by the Head of Institution through the placement portal and duly processed in accordance with the protocols that have already been issued by the Ministry.

(c) Disbursement of Capitation for Term One, 2026

The Government has today released Ksh. 44,245,066,500.85 (Forty-Four Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-Five Million, Sixty-Six Thousand, Five Hundred Shillings and Eighty-Five Cents Only), as capitation for Term 1 for learners in all public basic education institutions. The amount has been apportioned as follows across the various levels of basic education:

The release of capitation funds will facilitate the seamless conduct of school activities in the new term, starting on 5^th January, 2026, with Grade 10 learners expected to report to their respective Senior Schools starting 12^th January, 2026.

The Government affirms its commitment to fulfil its duty to learners and educational institutions, in line with Article 53 of the Constitution that entitles every child to free and compulsory basic education.

To ensure clarity on the financing framework for senior schools, the Ministry has issued a circular dated 2^nd January, 2026, affirming that fees payable by learners in senior schools remain unchanged, and that the Government will continue to provide capitation at the rate of Ksh. 22,244 per learner per year. 

School heads and principals are directed to ensure prudent use of these public resources entrusted to their care for the benefit of learners, and to desist from imposing any extra levies or fees.

As a Ministry, we will deal firmly with any verified cases of misappropriation of resources and the imposition of extra levies or fees. 

Julius Migos Ogamba, EBS
CABINET SECRETARY

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

 OFFICE OF THE CABINET SECRETARY

PRESS STATEMENT 

For Immediate Release

2^nd January, 2026

ACADEMIC YEAR 2026 COMMENCEMENT UPDATE 

Following the end of the Christmas and New Year festivities, basic education institutions are shortly set to commence the 2026 Academic Year. This statement highlights the following key issues as we embark on the new Academic Year:

(a) Re-opening for Term One, 2025

All basic education schools are expected to re-open for the new term on Monday, 5^th January, 2026. The Ministry’s field officers, under the guidance of the Regional Directors of Education and the County Directors of Education, will monitor adherence to the academic calendar as schools re-open.

(b) Placements for Grade 10 of Senior School

The first revision of placements to Grade 10 of Senior School was completed on 29^th December, 2025. Joining instructions for learners already placed have been accessible on the placement portal (www.placement.education.go.ke) effective 30^th December, 2025.

As earlier indicated, interested learners will have a further opportunity to apply for review of their placement from 6^th January, 2026, to9^th January, 2026.

The revision will provide parents, guardians and learners the opportunity to provide legitimate and verifiable grounds to justify a reconsideration of the initial or revised placement. 

In order to ensure unhindered access to education and enhance optimal utilization of available resources while addressing genuine outstanding placement needs, requests for further review may be initiated through the learner’s Junior School or at the Senior School of interest. The requests shall be submitted by the Head of Institution through the placement portal and duly processed in accordance with the protocols that have already been issued by the Ministry.

(c) Disbursement of Capitation for Term One, 2026

The Government has today released Ksh. 44,245,066,500.85 (Forty-Four Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-Five Million, Sixty-Six Thousand, Five Hundred Shillings and Eighty-Five Cents Only), as capitation for Term 1 for learners in all public basic education institutions. The amount has been apportioned as follows across the various levels of basic education:

The release of capitation funds will facilitate the seamless conduct of school activities in the new term, starting on 5^th January, 2026, with Grade 10 learners expected to report to their respective Senior Schools starting 12^th January, 2026.

The Government affirms its commitment to fulfil its duty to learners and educational institutions, in line with Article 53 of the Constitution that entitles every child to free and compulsory basic education.

To ensure clarity on the financing framework for senior schools, the Ministry has issued a circular dated 2^nd January, 2026, affirming that fees payable by learners in senior schools remain unchanged, and that the Government will continue to provide capitation at the rate of Ksh. 22,244 per learner per year. 

School heads and principals are directed to ensure prudent use of these public resources entrusted to their care for the benefit of learners, and to desist from imposing any extra levies or fees.

As a Ministry, we will deal firmly with any verified cases of misappropriation of resources and the imposition of extra levies or fees. 

Julius Migos Ogamba, EBS
CABINET SECRETARY