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THIRTEENTH PARLIAMENT

Fifth Session

Wednesday, 11th March, 2026 at 9.30 a.m.

PARLIAMENT OF KENYA

The House met at the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings, at 9.30 a.m.

PRAYER

DETERMINATION OF QUORUM AT COMMENCEMENT OF SITTING

QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS

QUESTIONS

[The Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and

Regional Development (Hon. Beatrice Moe) was ushered into the Chamber] Cabinet Secretary, you are here to respond to Question No.017 by the Senator of Kitui County, hon. Wambua.

Hon. Senator, you may proceed to ask your Question. Question No.017

DROUGHT MITIGATION AND LONG-TERM ADAPTATION STRATEGIES

1. Could the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the drought situation in the country and disclose the data used by the Government to classify the affected areas?
2. How has the Government distributed the current budgetary allocation for drought mitigation and response across counties; and could the Cabinet Secretary provide details on the specific programmes that have so far been rolled out in each affected county to mitigate the adverse effects of drought?
3. What measures has the Ministry put in place to ensure effective coordination of drought response efforts by the national Government, county governments, development partners, and humanitarian agencies?
4. When does the Government expect the ongoing drought response programmes to stabilize the livelihoods of the most affected communities; and could the Cabinet Secretary outline indicators that would be used to assess success?
5. What long-term climate adaptation strategies is the Government implementing to enhance drought preparedness and resilience; and, could the Cabinet Secretary disclose the Government's current and planned investment in climate change agriculture initiatives? I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

I thank the hon. Members for the opportunity accorded to me to appear before you, to provide an update on the current drought situation in the country and the Government's response measures.

The Government appreciates the oversight role played by this committee, particularly in view of the close link between droughts, human security, resource-based conflicts, and the stability of communities in Arid and Semi-Arid areas (ASALs).

In response to the matters raised, I will highlight-

1. The current drought situation and the food security outlook;
2. Government interventions currently underway;
3. Coordination mechanisms guiding the national drought resilience and response; and,
4. Long-term resilience investments aimed at reducing vulnerability to the current drought. Overview of the Drought Situation - Drought conditions have begun to establish across most arid and semi-arid land counties following the off-season rainfall received in February, which temporarily eased environmental stress and slowed the deteriorating of key drought indicators. However, despite this short-term improvement, unusually hot and dry conditions persisted in several areas, sustaining drought risk and delaying the full recovery of livelihoods. Nevertheless, the cumulative impact of consecutive below-average rainfall seasons, including the October to December, 2025, show trends compounded by above- normal temperatures during the January and February, 2026 periods accelerated the depletion of rangeland resources. This has increased pressure on pastoral and agro- pastoral livelihoods, disrupted early recovery gains and eroded household coping mechanisms, resulting in widening food security and nutrition risk across the affected counties. There are isolated pockets of non-ASAL counties such as Elgeyo- Marakwet within the sub-counties of Marakwet East and West, in Siaya County around Yimbo West, around Homa Bay Kabuoch North, Migori, North Sakwa, Machakos around Masinga, Mwala, Kola and Mavoko. Under Kiambu counties; Thika, Juja, Ruiru, Limuru, Kikuyu and Kabete. Nakuru County; Rongai and Gilgil; around Murang’a South, and in Kirinyaga, Kirinyaga East, and Kirinyaga West, also recorded suppressed rainfall performance during the October, December, 2025, short rains season, indicating broader national climate stress with implications for stable food production, market supply chains and price stability. Drought Phase Classification - The current drought phase classification indicates continued stress across ASAL counties despite the off-season rains. Four counties of Mandera, Kilifi, Kwale, and Wajir remain in an alarm phase, indicating heightened drought stress and the need for sustainable response interventions. Thirteen counties of Samburu, Baringo, Marsabit, Kitui, Taita-Taveta, Kajiado, West Pokot, Garissa, Isiolo, Tana River, Turkana, Lamu and Tharaka-Nithi are classified in the alert phase, reflecting continued drought pressure and the need for close monitoring.

Two counties of Laikipia and Narok are within the pre-alert phase. Four counties including Makueni, Nyeri, Embu and Meru remain in the normal phase, with environmental indicators largely within the seasonal ranges.

Allow me to explain how alerts alarm emergency are captured within the footnote of the bigger report. We talk of the normal when environmental indicators show no unusual fluctuation. When we speak of alerts, environmental indicators fluctuate outside expected seasonal range. On alarm, environmental and production indicators fluctuate outside the seasonal range. On an emergency, all indicators are outside the normal range. On recovery, environmental indicators return to season norms. Of course, there is a table showing the details of what I have just read, which I used to classify drought affected areas.

The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) manages the national drought early warning systems, which track four categories of indicators, biophysical, production, access and utilisation on monthly basis.

Secondly, it integrates remote sense data with the primary and secondary information on biophysical and socioeconomic indicators. It analyses the data to generate monthly early warning bulletins that provide the drought phase classification for each county. Again, it relies on the most relevant indicators from the four categories to determine the drought phase classification.

Finally, to disseminate drought information to support early actions and to prevent loss of lives and livelihoods. Biophysical indicators are rainfall data, vegetation condition and state of water resource that basically fall under environmental. Production, livestock body condition, milk production, livestock migration, livestock mortality and crop production are under livestock production, crop production and crop production.

On access, terms of trade, that is, meat, maize, milk consumption, price of commodities and livestock distances to water, that is under market access to food and water. Utilisation, mid-upper arm circumferences, coping strategies, food consumption score, that is under nutrition coping mechanisms. There is a chart showing that.

On food and nutrition security situation, food security in Kenya is highly dependent on rainfall. Given the bimodal rainfall patterns in ASAL counties, multi- agency and multi-sector food and nutrition security assessment are undertaken twice annually, following the October to December short rains and the March to May long rains.

The drought early warning systems monitors drought condition on a monthly basis to track trends and emerging issues or risks. At the end of each rainfall season, a comprehensive food security assessment is conducted to evaluate the impact of seasonal performance on livelihoods. The food security assessment adapts multi-hazard approach and considers national risk factors such as floods, pests and diseases, conflict and insecurity which may compound the effect of rainfall, deficits and further undermine household resilience.

The assessment analysis applied the integrated food security phase classification to determine severity and underlying drivers of food insecurity. Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), acute malnutrition analysis was also conducted to identify both food-related and non-food drivers of malnutrition, ensuring alignment with internationally recognised classification standards and the global best practise. The IPC

is an internationally recognised standard for classifying the severity of food insecurity and ensure adherence to the global best practises.

The 2025 short rains, food and nutrition security assessment conducted in January, 2026 evaluated the impact of poor short rain season across 23 ASAL counties. These counties remain structurally vulnerable due to high poverty levels, aridity, recurrent climate shocks and limited livelihood diversification.

The assessment considers rainfall performance alongside additional shocks affecting markets, livestock productivity, water access and household incomes. The assessment estimates around 3.3 million people across the 23 ASAL counties are currently food insecure as of February, 2026.

Based on the forecast of the below average March to May long rains, the situation is projected to deteriorate further with the food insecure population expected to rise to approximately 3.68 million people by June, 2026, representing a significant escalation within four months’ window.

Table 2 represents the population requiring urgent food assistance across the 23 ASAL counties based on the latest assessment findings. Nine counties including Mandera, Turkana, Marsabit, Wajir, Isiolo, Garissa, Tana River, Samburu and Kwale are currently experiencing a serious food insecurity. Many households are unable to meet their basic food needs without external assistance.

The remaining 14 counties that include Turkana, Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Kwale, Samburu, Tana River, Isiolo, Kitui, Meru North and Kajiado are under food stress. This means that the households are managing to meet minimal food requirements but only by reducing spending on other essential needs, selling assets or adopting negative coping strategies. While conditions in most of the severely affected counties are expected to remain at similar levels in short term, the number of people requiring assistance is projected to increase.

Mandera County faces a high risk of further deterioration into emergency condition by June, 2026 if their forecast below average rains materialise and the response measures are not scaled up. So, the nutrition situation remains a matter of serious concern, with the rising levels of acute malnutrition in several drought-affected counties requiring urgent scale up of screening, treatment and preventive services. Extremely high levels of acute malnutrition have been recorded in Mandera, Turkana South, Turkana East, and North Horr in Marsabit. Very high levels are also reported in Garissa, Isiolo, Wajir, Samburu and Turkana North, sides of Kibish, Turkana West, Turkana Central, Loima and Tiaty.

Several additional counties are showing worsening child and maternal nutrition trends. The overall 810,871 children aged between 6 to 59 months and 116,796 pregnant and lactating mothers are acutely malnourished and require urgent treatment and nutritional support.

Without a timely expansion of interventions, the situation poses a serious public health risk and long-term consequences for human capital development. The table is already showing the numbers on the populations that need urgent food security or assistance.

I am getting to point (b), on the question on how the Government has distributed the current budgetary allocation for drought mitigation and response across counties and

details of the specific programmes that have so far been rolled out in each affected county, to mitigate the adverse effects of drought.

The Ministry is undertaking the following response measures- Through National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), it is undertaking limited drought response intervention using resources under the NDMA and the National Drought Emergency Fund and the European Union (EU), with a total budgetary provision amounting to KShs265,718,782.09 cents.

The resources have primarily supported water interventions, including water trucking, fuel subsidies, repair of strategic facilities, provision of tanks and livestock feeds, that is, drought pellets. In addition, the Ministry, through National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) provides an unconditional cash transfer to 133,800 poor and vulnerable households in the eight arid counties, namely Turkana, Marsabit, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Isiolo, Samburu and Tana River.

The cash transfers are disbursed under the Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP), a key vision 2030 flagship programme. The monthly stipends enable beneficiary households to purchase food and meet other essential household needs. The cash transfer programme contributes to the progressive realization of the right of every Kenyan to be free from hunger and to have adequate food of acceptable quality, as provided for under Article 43 (1) (c) of the Constitution of Kenya.

Between November, 2025 and February, 2026, the Government disbursed a total of Kshs1,854,054,900 in cash transfers under the programme. This includes Kshs205,137,900 disbursed in November, 2025, Kshs873,080,100 in January, 2026, and Kshs778,536,900 in February, 2026. The cash transfers have ensured continuity of consumption support for poor and vulnerable households during the drought period, especially as declining livestock productivity and the weakening market prices undermine household food security.

By strengthening household purchase power, the transfers have enabled beneficiary households to meet essential food and non-food needs, while reducing reliance on distress coping strategies such as livestock sales and asset depletion. Under the Kshs4.1 billion allocated for national Government drought resilience, NDMA was allocated Kshs350 million for critical water sector intervention, repair and maintenance of strategic bore holes, food security assessment, and drought response coordination.

Priority measures are being implemented across key sectors, including social protection and safety nets, livestock, water, health, nutrition, agriculture, education, child protection, peace and security, and drought response coordination. The interventions are aimed at protecting lives and livelihoods, safeguarding core livelihood assets, maintaining continuity of essential services, and strengthening coordination of multi- sector response in affected counties.

Table 3 indicates sector interventions priorities for the February to April, 2026 period to prevent further deterioration and mitigate transition into emergency condition. Of course, it is put there in summary.

To ensure the effectiveness of drought response efforts by the national Government, county governments, development partners, and humanitarian agencies, the government has strengthened established drought coordination mechanisms at both the

national and county levels to ensure structured, accountable, and multi-sector response during the current drought period.

The key structures are as follows. The Intergovernmental Committee on Drought Response chaired by His Excellency the Deputy President has convened regularly to review drought early warning updates, assess sector gaps and prioritise interventions. This has enabled a timely allocation of resources to critical sectors, particularly water, livestock and social protection, while mobilizing complementary support from development partners.

Multi-sector technical committee formed under the APEX coordination structure consolidates sectoral drought impact data, identifies priority response gaps, and coordinates the preparation and alignment of sector response plans. The committee has also supported harmonised targeting across affected counties and provides regular programme reports to guide strategic decisions at the APEX level.

County steering groups, co-chaired by Governors and County Commissioners, are convening routinely to review local drought conditions, approve costed response plans, and synchronise Government and partners' intervention. This structure guides geographical targeting of response interventions while minimising duplication and strengthening accountability.

The lower coordination platform at the sub-counties and the world level facilitates real-time information flow from communities, validates beneficiary targeting lists and enables rapid adjustment of interventions in response to evolving conditions on the ground. Collectively, these mechanisms are ensuring coherent national to local coordination, strengthening accountability and supporting a timely data-driven drought response.

There was a question on when the Government expects the ongoing drought response programmes to stabilise the livelihoods of the most affected communities and the indicators that would be used to assess success. The prevailing drought has adversely affected the vulnerable population and their lives due to acute water shortages for domestic and productive use, raising food and nutrition insecurity and deteriorating of both livestock-based and crop-based production systems, which are dependent on rainfall.

The current response measures are designed to cushion affected communities, affected lives and safeguard core livelihood assets. These interventions are primarily relief-oriented and focus on enhancing household coping mechanisms or capacity, minimising asset depletion, and preventing irreversible losses.

They also lay the foundation for recovery once favourable climate conditions return. Stabilisation of the livelihood is expected once adequate and well-distributed rainfall is received across the affected counties. Confirmed improvement will be evidenced when key drought monitoring indicators return to or trend towards their established long-term seasonal averages.

The National Drought Early Warning System monitors and analyses more than 50 indicators grouped into two broad categories. Environmental indicators, including rainfall performance, temperature trends, vegetation condition, pasture and browse status, and water availability and access. The other indicator is socioeconomic, including food production and access, livestock productivity, malnutrition level, school attendance, drought-related diseases pattern and conflict risk.

During the drought period, these indicators deviate significantly from the long- term season normal average. Stabilizing of the situation will be considered achieved when indicators value demonstrates sustained improvement and aligned with normal seasonal benchmark---.

and resilient pasture species such as the African foxtail grass, which can thrive in areas where rainfall is minimal and can improve livestock productivity in the region.

The Gums and Resin Processing Factory in Wajir County with a processing capacity of 500 kgs of gums resin per batch is a beacon of untapped potential, offering sustainable, nature-based livelihood for pastoralists, pastoral communities, reducing resilience and climate-vulnerable livestock farming.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the ones I have said are the key activities that are needed need at the House. Thank you.

Thank you. I have a number of questions, but I have only two that I am allowed. First of all, the responses are completely underwhelming. I will go to the response on question one where she writes on food and nutrition security situation on page six of her response and gives us a narrative on the number of children aged between 6 and 59 months, and on pregnant and lactating mothers; gives a number and tells us that these people are acutely malnourished. I would have expected her to tell us what the Government is doing about this situation and not to just paint a picture of a sorry state of affairs on malnutrition. On that point, I ask that perhaps if she could give us details on what the Government response is to the malnourished children and the malnourished pregnant and lactating women because she has given us the figures here.

My second question is very disturbing. In her classification of the status of drought in counties, she has said that there are some counties that are receiving unconditional cash transfers. To my amazement and I will give an example, Samburu is classified as a county where things are looking up and improving. However, that county is receiving unconditional cash transfers. I hesitate to talk about Kitui because people might think I am biased. Kilifi and Kwale are classified as being in the alarm status and the situation is worsening. However, they are not receiving the unconditional cash transfers.

What is the explanation, Mr. Speaker, Sir?

guarantee that they access schooling safely and are not swept away by floods? I am particularly curious about the case of Angugo and Kabuto areas in Nyatike Constituency.

(ENSDA) on tomato processing plant. It has stalled for many years. We want to know the status of that project because it is one of the mitigating factors in addressing drought.

The Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development (Hon. Beatrice Askul Moe): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I was keen on what I said the Ministry is doing in terms of providing the data which is not solely produced by the Ministry. Rather, it is a multisectoral affair. Partners, for example, Red Cross and many other non-governmental institutions are partakers. The information that is informing whatever action we may have directed to the relevant sectors is basically coming from the counties where, we would as well say, senators are coming from. So, the information is a multisectoral approach, where many stakeholders are giving the information.

As NDMA, within the State Department of East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and Regional Development, our aim is to give the issues that would guide the many sectors and ministries on what they need to do. There are levels on how we get the targets. For instance, on cash transfers, we look at poverty levels among the indicators that would be used.

On how we arrived at the eight, there were many parameters that were used. If you will give me time, I will supply to the House the parameters of the first eight counties that are benefiting from the cash transfers. We were anticipating to add other 15 counties - Baringo, Kitui, Makueni, Meru, Narok, Taita Taveta, Lamu, Embu, West Pokot, Kwale, Kilifi, Nyeri, Tharaka Nithi and Laikipia Counties. Within the very parameters that picked the eight, we were to expand it to these other ones, and in reference to the variables that we were to look at in terms of who benefits.

An individual gets Kshs2,700 as cash transfer, as a way of enhancing the family decision to make variance in terms of the choices of goods and food they would want to have. I see most of the questions are revolving around the targets.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, even when we bring information here, these hon. Members are allowed to help input on the matters that would guide the process positively. So, even when we share and you feel like there are counties that need to be added for whatever reasons, that friendly interaction is very critical. Our offices are open and Senators are supposed to come and consult to get whatever information they need and what they want us to capture. We would interact in that manner.

Let me touch on some of the Questions. Hon. Members were a bit fast, so, if I do not touch on the ones that are critical to a particular Senator, feel free to ask. The reason why we share this information is to inform the many ministries, stakeholders and the many coordinating organs that are doing this across the country.

The Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development (Hon. Beatrice Askul Moe): I am guided, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

I was reading because I wanted to be accurate with the information that I am sharing with the House. So, to the Senator who felt like I was not doing a favourable

thing by reading, I was actually giving information as it is, so that I do not talk about the things outside that.

The concerns on issues of schools, as I said, fall under the Ministry of Education, while issues on nutrition of women, children and lactating mothers fall under the Ministry of Health and many other stakeholders around the health sector. So, the relevant ministries will respond to that.

We were doing cash transfer on hunger safety net programme because it was a flagship project. So, we are pursuing it and we are increasing counties, from 8, we are adding 15 more to make it 23. On drought and mitigation measures accountability, the responsible units, Ministries, and stakeholders that benefit from the cash meant to mitigate the effects of drought have the obligation of being accountable, the same way the control measures of government make sure every Ministry is accountable for the resources they have.

I would like to appreciate Sen. Mungatana, for the remark you made when we visited your area. Many Senators know we visit their counties. This is good of you and I appreciate on behalf of the Ministry. That remark keeps the workers that work under us supporting the citizens of the country positive. I know they are watching.

On national policy, it is implemented as being guided by the various needs. We will all implement and abide by the recommendations that are given by the control measures that are put through national auditing units and the budgetary allocation units.

Sen. Olekina asked about on the long-term strategy, in Ewaso Ng'iro South Tannery and Leather Factory. We had to pick on that because the question was directing us on the drought mitigation measures that we are doing as a Ministry. Of course, there are other things we are doing. However, this one was responding to the things that happen at the time of the drought that the Ministry is carrying over there. So, the response was basically on the drought.

On the utility of early warning by the Ministry, as I said, once the information is found within the satellites that are located in counties and sub-counties, advising the weather condition and the drought situation in every county, it is shared with the many stakeholders. We share with the Ministries, non-governmental institutions, partners, counties and sub-counties to advise on the likelihood of what to project in their planning. So, our aim is to produce the data and then share with relevant institutions that need to utilize it.

Sen. Cherarkey, matters that are raised by the Office of the Auditor-General are always taken keenly by the Ministries. I do that in my Ministry and I believe other Ministries equally pick those recommendations seriously. We have no option other than to abide.

Regarding the question on water harvest, the Government of Kenya is doing a lot. The President of the Republic of Kenya has directed Ministries to have big plans in terms of mega dams. Some of the mega dams fall within ASAL counties as mechanisms for water harvesting. This is because at one time we have drought but another moment we have floods.

Harvesting water downstream will ensure availability of water when we have boreholes because drought also affects recharge levels of boreholes. That is one way of capturing waste that goes downstream without being utilised or reducing the effects of

floods. When you harvest a lot of water, you reduce the hazards or the havoc that come with it. Therefore, it is already within the bigger national agenda that Ministries do mega dams.

On the question regarding the tomato factory in Kajiado under Ewaso Ng’iro South Development Authority, the constraints that we undergo sometimes as implementers of the services to Kenyans are around budgeting issues. Once you target a project but you do not get adequate financing to facilitate, the process slows a bit. That does not mean it is not within the best intentions to realising that.

I know there is a tomato factory there because I visited it myself. We came up with a way of ensuring that it functions especially during rainy seasons when there are a lot of tomatoes in the farms. Therefore, there must be value addition mechanisms on the tomatoes.

Regarding the issue in Embu County and the 14,000 people who are targeted, Hon. Senator, the information we would like to share is based on short and long rains. So long as the population that is supposed to be captured falls within categories of variables that we look at or parameters that guide on who benefits, we are free to engage the counties, as it has been, so that they give us adequate data. Let us begin from there.

The number that was arrived at was 14,000 as the most vulnerable. We can still have more should there be more vulnerable persons who may have been left out.

Concerning the question about Elgeyo-Marakwet, I have been there and I know the challenges of the area. Like I said, Elgeyo-Marakwet is one of the counties where we intend to look at in terms of increasing the number and areas to target.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I am done.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would also like to thank the Government of President William Ruto for considering a lady from Turkana to sit in the Cabinet. In that regard, I would like her to give the Senate the correct data. Currently we are affected by serious drought. On Monday, I was in one of the villages to give them some rice so that schools can survive.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, with the correct data, our communities will get the right support. If she goes to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), she will get the right data for this country.

I thank you.

communicate a date when you will come back to this Plenary for purposes of giving satisfactory responses to all the concerns that have been raised.

For today, we will allow you to go back but a date will be communicated to you when you will come. Hopefully when you come next, you will give us satisfactory responses to these questions.

You are free to leave the Chamber, Hon. Cabinet Secretary. The Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development (Hon. Beatrice Askul Moe): Mr. Speaker, Sir, and Hon. Members, the Government remains fully committed to protecting lives and livelihoods while strengthening long-term resilience to drought and climate shocks. We will continue to work closely with county governments, development partners and humanitarian project agencies to ensure that drought response remains timely coordinated and responsive to evolving conditions on the ground.

I thank you, Hon. Senators, for your guidance. I am obliged to take your guidance.

Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. May God bless Kenya. May God bless you.

STATUS OF BLUE ECONOMY PROGRAMMES IN KISUMU COUNTY

We will move to the three questions directed to the Cabinet Secretary in charge of education; I am informed he is present.

Clerk, kindly usher in the Cabinet Secretary in charge of education. [The Cabinet Secretary for Education (Hon. Julius Migos Ogamba) was ushered into of the Chamber]

COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

VISITING DELEGATION FROM MAMA NGINA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE IN GATUNDU

Then let us have the Deputy Minority Leader welcome the students from Mama Ngina University College in Gatundu, Kiambu County.

Question No.006

AUTONOMY OF JSS SCHOOLS AND CPGS FOR TEACHERS

Domiciling junior schools in primary schools was also designed to facilitate a smooth and universal transition for all grade 6 learners to junior secondary education. This is because domiciling junior schools in existing primary schools meant, learners did not have to travel long distances, thus addressing distance as a critical factor that would affect student well-being and attendance, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised children.

The report therefore recommended that junior schools be domiciled within existing primary schools. In fact, the report recommends the establishment of comprehensive schools up to grade 9, headed by one head of institution. This, therefore, is a recommendation that the Ministry is implementing.

The guidelines outline the framework for the overall management of junior schools, encompassing administration, governance, infrastructure development, and curriculum implementation. In line with the policy position and the guidelines in place, primary and junior schools have one head of institution and one board of management that oversees the governance and management of the school. The operation of separate accounts is not designed to indicate autonomy or separation between primary and junior schools.

The two levels of basic education are funded at different rates in terms of capitation, with primary school learners funded at the rate of Kshs1,420 per learner per year, while junior schools are funded at the rate of Kshs15,042 per learner per year. The vote heads for the utilisation of these funds are also different. Thus, for purposes of financial planning, accountability and audits, the accounts for junior school and primary school are kept separate.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, our heads of institutions are regularly capacity-built to discharge their administrative roles effectively. Through the Teacher Service Commission (TSC), the Government continuously retools heads of institutions managing both primary and junior schools on key aspects of institutional administration, teacher management and the implementation of the junior school curriculum. Support is also provided by TSC and the Ministry of Education to all our field officers.

The teacher induction, mentorship and coaching programs have also been institutionalised across all public basic institutions, including junior schools, to strengthen professional practice, improve instructional leadership and ensure that newly deployed junior school teachers receive the necessary mentorship and support for effective curriculum delivery. In terms of career progression, guidelines were adopted between 2015 and 2016 by the TSC in consultation with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) that conducted a job evaluation for all the teachers. Based on the findings of the job evaluation report, the SRC rendered a formal advisory under Article 230 of the Constitution proposing a remuneration structure for teachers in the public service.

After the job evaluation, the Commission signed the 2017/2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the teachers' unions, purposely to anchor the findings of the job evaluation results. The adoption of the new remuneration structure and the new CBA necessitated the development and implementation of a new teacher's Career Progression Guidelines (CPG) to align with the new grading structure for the career progression of the teachers. To this end, through a consultative approach, the Commission developed the new CPG of 2018.

The career progression guidelines have a comprehensive and definitive career progression framework for primary school teachers, secondary school teachers, teacher training college lecturers, and special needs education teachers. The guidelines outline the qualifications, skills, competencies and experience required for advancement in the profession by setting out the minimum requirements for selection, appointment and promotion of teachers at different grades. Under the competency-based education system, the curriculum content for the learners in junior school is of secondary school level, which can only be taught and implemented by graduates trained as secondary school teachers.

To this end, all teachers teaching in junior schools hold the training skills, competencies and qualifications for secondary school level curriculum delivery. To underscore this position, the appointment letters issued to teachers stationed in junior schools, which form a contractual foundation with the commission, clearly state their grades and all designations. This applies to secondary school teachers too, as per the career progression guideline, 2018. In terms of career growth and progression, junior school teachers, being secondary school teachers, progress under the secondary school career progression framework set out under the career progression guidelines.

It must be clarified that the grading structure and career progression of junior school teachers should be distinguished from their place of work. For all intents and purposes, junior school teachers, regardless of their place of work, are secondary school teachers by training, qualification, skills and competencies, and are treated as such for their career progression.

I submit, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Maanzo.

undertaking the construction of 1,600 laboratories to ensure that the schools that do not have these laboratories have them. So, the ministry is doing everything possible to ensure that all schools have the necessary infrastructure to support the curriculum so that none of our students in any areas of our country is discriminated against.

I indicated, with respect to the intern teachers, the 44,000 of them, that we have received the ruling. We are studying the ruling to understand the legal and financial implications in order for us to comply with it. I indicated that it would have budgetary and financial implications. Once we understand the extent, we will then make the necessary requisitions, whether in supplementary or for Financial Year 2026/2027 so that we can comply with it and meet the necessary requirements because this was a Court of Appeal decision.

With respect to the issues relating to the teachers having a problem with SHA, there is a meeting that is already taking place within the Ministry of Health and KUPPET to handle that issue and ensure that we do not allow it to become a crisis. So, discussions are being held to ensure that whatever challenge that they are facing is resolved. As we speak, that meeting is taking place.

Thank you.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, attached to that, if you allow me, is what we are calling the primary schools as it were, which has nine cohorts that is grade one all the way to grade nine. We need massive skills to manage that kind of an institution.

Maybe the Cabinet Secretary should clarify exactly what we are going to do because there are conflicts between teachers serving in junior school and the administrators who are trained as primary school teachers.

The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri): Very well, the Cabinet Secretary has noticed the passion that you have. Noting that you are the former chair to the committee on education---

national school boys of the county. I wanted to make the Cabinet Secretary see that even as he undertakes to visit, please do something about the infrastructure of that school, particularly the fence that has gone down.

The Cabinet Secretary is hard-working. He has also the infrastructure fund. Can he find a way to make sure his visit to Tana River, which I know he will promise here today, will benefit Hola Boys Secondary School infrastructure, in particular the fence?

Sen. Tabitha Mutinda: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Allow me to also appreciate the Cabinet Secretary for Education for his quick response with his counterpart, the Principal Secretary. I have always noticed that anytime I need a clarification, there is always a quick response. Shukran.

My question, was in regards to clarification that my colleague Sen. Nyutu had earlier sought. In Cabinet Secretary’s response, this response from the stakeholders, the 93 percent, was more on the structures, talking about the primary has the grade seven and eight classrooms and all that. What the question needed and the response we are waiting for is much more on the leadership of JSS and its independence.

I do not know if it is at this time, you would be proposing to Parliament then we amend the law and bring about the curriculum in terms of a bachelor's degree, JSS category, since we have the primary category and the secondary category. Do you feel we have a gap and we need to legislate as far as the bachelor's JSS category is concerned?

Recently we had the Principal Secretary talk about ghost learners. What is the current status of that report that you aired that you have ghost learners? How far have the investigations gone? Lastly, how many JSS teachers do you have? This is because as government, yesterday, when we were having the parliamentary group meeting, the President stated and which I confirm, that over a hundred thousand teachers are being employed. How many are JSS teachers? How many are primary and how many are secondary?

We have requested them to reach out to the headquarters of our institutions if there is a problem and solutions will be given to them. They will get assistance from our IT teams so that the particular problem ceases to exist because it was predominant in the previous system.

So, we are assuring you that going forward, we are resolving that challenge of capitation. One of the ways that we did it was to do a verification exercise which has now given us the exact numbers of students we have in each grade.

In the exercise that we did, we got numbers from each grade, male and female and those with special needs so that going forward, we do not have that problem of ghost learners. I will answer that question when I answer hon. Sabina's question. So, we are handling the issue of capitation. I am sorry, it is not hon. Sabina but Sen. Mutinda Tabitha. I think somebody was on my mind.

On the question of the administrative independence of the Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, as I have indicated, JSS teachers are actually secondary school teachers only domiciled in primary schools and the curriculum is definitely secondary. It is true that there is a conflict in terms of the governance and administration.

As a Ministry and as TSC, we have recognised that problem and created scenarios. There is a board paper that has been prepared with a number of scenarios on how to resolve that conflict. One of the options that is being recommended and if it goes through, then ensures that a policy, a regulation or a change of law comes, is that would probably have a principal for JSS and a head of institution for primary. So, we will then work on the regulations and policies that will ensure there is a smooth running of that section. So, that paper has been done. It is going through the various stages and once we reach a level where we require it to be a policy or a regulation, we will present it.

We have recognised that problem and want to ensure that there is smooth running in our institutions. Before that, because we did not have them, we had to retool and train the head teachers to keep running the institutions so that we do not come to a halt.

We came up with programmes with Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI) and various governance training because administration and governance cuts across so that, at least, the institutions keep going. So, that is where we are.

On the question by Sen. Onyonka, on the issue relating to an audit of the teachers in this country, it is ongoing as we speak. One of the things that we discovered is that everybody who has a TSC number is identified as an unemployed teacher.

Sen. Nyutu is here, he is a teacher with a TSC number which he has never returned but he is identified as an unemployed teacher. When we give the data for the unemployment of teachers, we include him. So, we have the wrong data. That exercise is now being undertaken. I think there was an advert by TSC for all teachers with TSC numbers to go into the portal and indicate what they are doing currently. This way, we will now have proper data of all teachers that are employed by TSC, privately and those

that have since left that particular profession to do other things. So, we will be able to avail that once the exercise is completed.

I have not been able to come to Tana River. Actually, I intend to do so, as you correctly predicted. Maybe, we need to start with Hola Secondary School. I suggest that the principal writes and request for some support because that then becomes the basis upon which we can act. Then we will come with something and discuss the issues that are facing that particular area that we need to do affirmative action on.

I am being advised that all the 106,201 teachers that have been employed in the last three years are all JSS teachers; 44,000 of them are interns and 62,201 have been placed in permanent and pensionable terms.

With respect to the question of Samburu and what the Ministry is doing to ensure the systematic inequality is addressed, we are currently using the data that we have, for example, on the transition of grade 9 to 10, to determine what supports we need to do for the schools in the ‘marginalised’ areas. One of which is the building of low-cost boarding schools. We have the National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK) handling this and of course through the school feeding programmes. This is so that going forward, we have schools in those areas that are capable of supporting a large number of students in one place where we have everything that is required.

For instance, we transitioned 18,000 students in the three North Eastern counties, which averaged about 6,000 students per county. This means if we did three or four full infrastructure at schools in those areas, we can be able to support students from there so that they are not disadvantaged. That is what we are doing as a Ministry, using the data that we are collecting in order for us to be able to determine which supports to give in a manner that is sustainable and secure.

I thank you.

On the question of technical teachers, what we have found out is that 51 per cent of the students that transitioned to Grade 10 are taking Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), 38 per cent are taking social sciences and 11 per cent are taking sports science. We are now working on the actual number of students who are taking technical subjects. We intend to work with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to ensure that we have enough teachers to support us in the technical subjects that may not have had teachers directly employed by the TSC to handle those subjects. As we get the data, we are now working towards ensuring that we have the right capacity of individuals, trainees or trainers to go there.

Thank you.

senior schools, we leave these ones to close. We look at everything, including distances between schools and see the best way to solve that challenge. What this placement has done is that it has forced us to look at our policies afresh and to interrogate the decisions we were making. For example, it is forcing us to find out if the schools we keep opening are viable.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, these are decisions that will be based on the data that we get and all the stakeholders will have a discussion about this. It not a decision that will be reached by the Ministry alone. It is a decision that we will present that these is the data that we have obtained, what do we do? Some might be merged and some might be closed, I may not know. It is something that we will need to deal with at that point once we have the discussion. It is for us to keep an open mind, so that we can get the best solution in terms of the schools that we have to have in our country vis-a-vis the number of the students that we have.

That is the clarification I wanted to make.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

VISITING DELEGATION FROM VYULYA GIRLS SECONDARY SCHOOL, MACHAKOS COUNTY

I wish you God's blessing and I am happy today that you are privileged to also meet the Cabinet Secretary for Education who is also in this House as we are trying to see how matters education are moving forward in this country.

Thank you and God bless you.

MECHANISMS TO SAFEGUARD TRANSPARENCY, ACCURACY AND CREDIBILITY OF NATIONAL ASSESSMENTS

1. Could the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on inquiries or actions taken regarding misreporting or manipulation of the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results, and clarify findings and accountability measures applied?
2. What mechanisms are in place to safeguard transparency, accuracy and credibility of national assessments under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, including the checks and balances built into the assessment process?
3. How does the Ministry monitor schools’ adherence to reporting standards and ensure strategies are in place to prevent the dissemination of misleading or inaccurate assessment information?
4. Could the Cabinet Secretary outline corrective actions taken where misreporting has been identified, providing a clear timeline for full implementation of reforms or sanctions? Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

The KJSEA is a summative assessment taken by Grade 9 learners at the completion of their junior school. It is an assessment designed to identify each learner's strengths, aptitudes and interests, ensuring that every child is placed in an environment where they can thrive. The KJSEA does not provide an aggregate score because competency-based education is about nurturing individual potential, not ranking learners.

Each subject is assessed independently and learners' achievements are reported using performance levels and not aggregate scores. This fits the purpose of junior school, which is to help learners understand their interests and strengths in order to select appropriate pathways for senior school. Learners' performance is categorised into the following four levels; Exceeding Expectation (EE), Meeting Expectation (ME), Approaching Expectation (AE) and Below Expectation (BE).

To ensure differentiation for purposes of placement of learners in senior school, each level of performance is subdivided into two bands. For instance, the level exceeding expectation comprises EE1 and EE2, where EE1 denotes a higher degree of exceeding expectations and EE2 denotes a lower degree. The introduction of these bands distinguishes exemplary performance from good performance.

Once the percentage score for each learner is computed per subject, KNEC reports the learner's subject score and awards points for the subject. We have provided a table that presents the performance levels and points used to report a learner's performance for subjects in KJSEA.

For 2025, Exceeding Expectation, we used EE1 - eight points, EE2 - seven points, Meeting Expectation, ME1 - six points, ME2 - five points, Approaching Expectation, AE1 - four points, AE2 - three points and Below Expectation, BE1 - two points and BE2 - one point.

Each level has two bands, EE1 and EE2 to distinguish exceptional performance from good performance. Points are assigned per subject only for reporting purposes, but these points are not to be added up as a score is not an aggregate.

On the pathway strengths, a formula is used that takes into account the cluster subjects used to determine a learner's strength in each pathway. This generates a strength score for each pathway ranging from 0 to 75. The higher the score, the greater the learner's demonstrated potential in that pathway. It is important to note that a learner's final performance comprises the following per subject: Twenty per cent from the Kenya Primary Education Assessment at Grade 6, 20 per cent from the Junior School-Based Assessment at Grade 7 and Grade 8 and 60 per cent is from the KJSEA summative exam at grade nine.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, before implementing assessments at each level, the KNEC conducts a pilot study to assure credibility. KNEC has conducted the following pilots-

1. Kenya Early Year Assessment

Pilot Study, which was conducted in 2018 in

1. Kenya Primary School Education
2. Kenya Junior Secondary Education

Assessment Pilot Study conducted in 2021

Assessment Pilot Study conducted in 2024

The scoring of summative assessments is automated for the objective items and the examiners are recruited to score the structured questions. Quality assurance checks are incorporated in the scoring processes for both the automated and examiner-marked items.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as earlier indicated, there was no misreporting or manipulation of the 2025 KJSEA results. However, to ensure that there is proper and effective understanding of the CBA framework, we organised forums for awareness creation and capacity building. For instance, since 2024, KNEC has been holding an annual stakeholder symposium to discuss assessments. This year's symposium will be held between the 4th and 8th May, 2026 at the Mitihani House in Nairobi.

Teacher retooling has also provided a platform for teachers to better understand assessment in the CBE. In addition, we have established the Educational Assessment Resource Centre, a department dedicated to building teachers' assessment capacity through a modular online programme offered at no cost. We have also established 530 hub schools across junior and senior schools to serve as centres for sustainable incubation, support and dissemination of CBA reforms under the CBA framework.

In addition to these awareness creation initiatives, KNEC maintains an enquiry desk to clarify any issues and offer support to schools and other stakeholders on the CBA framework.

I submit.

I would want the Cabinet Secretary, through you, to explain to us exactly what he and the Ministry is doing to see to it that there is participation of the parents and that there are also other ways of identifying these particular competencies, including observation and how to ensure that we do not lose a learner by placing them in the wrong pathway.

Thank You Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

child is likely to fall, what their competencies, skills and interests are in. That is how we have been able to place students at 51 per cent Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), 38 per cent social sciences and 11 per cent sports science. It is a process that cascades, is continuous and keeps adjusting, so that we are not only relying on the exam which was the 8-4-4 kind of system, so that whatever you have done for the eight years, if you do not get marks in the exam of 8-4-4 you do not progress. That is not how CBE is designed. It is designed for you to get something continuously as you pursue your studies.

In reference to the HR question that Sen. Onyonka has asked, it is true that we now want to cascade that analysis down to what we require. For example, I have indicated we have now 51 per cent STEM, 38 per cent social sciences and 11 per cent sports. It means that we have to recalibrate our programmes in universities and our training institutions to reflect these percentages, so that we do not have an inverted sort of pyramid where you might be having more teachers for subjects that have less learners. As we speak, we have had the first meetings with the universities and are now working towards the curriculum for 2029 for universities which will reflect what the Competency- Based Education requires for our students, so that we align and do not have teachers that are overloaded in one subject and underloaded in another. We are doing that using the numbers and will cascade across the board.

Thank you.

So, we are going to have a transition rate that is likely going to be higher than what we have ever had, because in every pathway you would have something that you would be interested in. Even within the pathways, there are tracks.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we perhaps need to have a retreat between ourselves and the Senators to go through that aspect. In a retreat, we might have more time to explain and our experts will be there to give you more information. It is a bit complicated. Due to the 8-4-4 system, many people thought that if you have 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, you excelled and you have more. However, what was important was the weight of the cluster subjects that was between zero and 75.

Thank you.

GOVERNMENT FUNDED EXTRACURRICULAR AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES IN KISUMU COUNTY

This Question is directed to the Cabinet Secretary for Education, the Hon. Julius Ogamba-

1. Could the Cabinet Secretary provide a report on government-funded extracurricular and talent development programmes in Kisumu County for the period 2022 to date, highlighting measurable achievements such as skills advancement, participation rates and progression of children into competitive platforms?
2. What systemic challenges have been identified as key barriers in implementing these programmes, particularly regarding equitable access for all children, coordination between schools and community centres and oversight and accountability in programme delivery?
3. How does the Ministry ensure efficient deployment of allocated resources for talent development, and what monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are used to detect gaps, inefficiencies or underperformance?
4. What targeted strategies are in place to ensure inclusion of marginalised or under-resourced children, with specific focus on initiatives for sustainable talent identification, mentorship pathways and long-term support structures?

development. These programmes are implemented through structured co-curricular frameworks coordinated by institutions such as the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA), the Kenya Primary and Junior Schools Sports Association (KPJSSA), the Kenya Science and Engineering Fair (KSEF), the Kenya Music, Drama and Films Festival as well as innovation and creative arts platforms. These initiatives are aligned with the Competency Based Education (CBE) Framework which emphasises talent identification, nurturing of learner’s abilities and development of competencies beyond purely academic achievements.

Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, between 2022 and 2025, Kisumu County has actively participated and recorded measureable progress in Government supported co- curricular programmes. At present, 617 public primary schools and 232 secondary schools in Kisumu County participate annually in organised co-curricular activities and competitions.

During the 2025 Kisumu County Secondary Schools Ball Games, 160 secondary schools competed in disciplines, including football, volleyball, netball, basketball, lawn tennis and table tennis. The football competition alone features over 20 teams, with representation from all the sub-counties of the county.

In addition, Kisumu County has hosted regional competitions and national co- curricular events under the KSSSA Framework, thereby expanding exposure and competitive opportunities for learners. The county has also hosted regional talent training camps organised by the Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS) which brings together promising athletes identified through school competitions. For example, in term one of 2026 co-curricular calendar, Kisumu County will be hosting athletics from primary to senior schools as well as special needs sports activities. Through these programmes, learners develop competencies in athletics and team sports, performing arts and creative expression in leadership, team work and discipline and also sportsmanship and national cohesion.

The KAS has conducted two regional talent camps in Kisumu, attracting more than 500 student athletes from across the Nyanza Region. These camps provide specialised training in disciplines such as football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, rugby and swimming.

The Ministry maintains a working arrangement with the KAS to facilitate talent identification, mentorship and elite athlete development. Through this collaboration, promising student athletes are identified and enrolled in specialised training pathways. For example, in December 2025, a regional elite camp was held at Kisumu Boys High School where student athletes received specialised coaching from national team trainers. In addition to technical sports, training participants were mentored and taken through life skills programmes aimed at supporting their long-term development.

The Ministry ensures inclusivity in these programmes by engaging all schools without discrimination. Talent-scouting is also conducted by qualified scouts and includes learners from diverse backgrounds, including students with special education needs and disabilities. The structured national school competition framework enables learners to progress through successive levels namely, ward and sub-county competitions, county championships, regional competitions, national championships and the East Africa school games.

Kisumu County learners have consistently progressed through these levels and the notable outcomes are as follows:

1. Similarly, Otieno Oyoo Secondary School, Kochogo Mixed Secondary School, Rae Kanyaika Primary School and Migosi Primary and Junior School have participated in the Kenya music festival national platforms.

Learners with special needs education from Kisumu County have also progressed to the national level of competitions between 2022 and 2025, demonstrating the inclusive nature of these programmes. In 2025, Agai Secondary School qualified for the East Africa Secondary School Soccer Championships, while Kisumu Girls High School and Rae Kanyaika Primary School advanced to the East Africa Drama Festivals. These achievements contribute to the broader national development agenda under Kenya’s Vision 2030 which recognises sports and creative industries as important drivers of youth empowerment, social cohesion and economic development.

While the progress recorded is encouraging, the Ministry recognises several systemic challenges that continue to affect optimal implementation of the extracurricular and talent development programmes. We continue to work with stakeholders to progressively address these challenges.

Firstly, these challenges include infrastructure and resource constraints which remain a big challenge in some schools. A number of institutions lack adequate sports fields, modern training facilities, specialised equipment and trained coaching personnel.

Secondly, there is unequal access to opportunities which continues to persist in some instances, particularly for learners in under-resourced or geographically remote schools who may have limited exposure to structured competitions and professional training opportunities such as learners who do not have standard sports kits like adequate tennis and badminton kits.

Thirdly, we have challenges in coordination occasionally arising among stakeholders that include schools, community sports clubs, county governments and national sports federations. Strengthening partnerships among these actors remain our priority.

Fourthly, we have integrity and compliance challenges which have historically arisen from use of manual registration systems which were vulnerable to irregularities such as impersonation, age cheating and falsified documentation. To address this, the Ministry introduced the mandatory digital registration of student athletes through the KSSSA Portal which is integrated to our National Education Management Information System (NEMIS). This digital platform enables verification of learners against official education records and significantly enhances transparency and integrity in competitions.

On monitoring, the Ministry has established a comprehensive governance and accountability framework to ensure efficient deployment of resources and effective

monitoring of extracurricular programmes. Programme implementation is also coordinated through institutional structures, including the Director of Field Coordination and Co-curricular Activities, regional co-curricular committees, county co-curricular committees, sub-county co-curricular committees and national and regional sports secretariats.

Monitoring and evaluation are conducted through several mechanisms, including the annual reporting framework submitted by the sub-county and county education officials, analysis of participation, rates and competitive outcomes, inspections and verification exercises conducted by quality assurance and standards officers during competitions, digital monitoring systems, particularly the Kenya Schools Sports Association Athletic Registration Platform, which is integrated with KEMIS. This mechanism strengthens transparency, detecting efficiencies and ensures prudent use of public resources.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, to ensure inclusion of marginalised and unresourced learners, the Ministry has implemented targeted strategies aimed at ensuring inclusive participation and sustainable talent development for all learners. These include; firstly, school-based talent identification, which ensures that teachers and coaches identify and nurture talent within schools, regardless of socio-economic background.

Secondly, the progressive national competition structure from ward level all the way to national level that ensures learners from the most remote schools have an opportunity to advance based on merit.

Thirdly, the CBE on framework integrates talent development into the education process through sports, creative arts and innovation activities.

Fourthly, the Ministry supports mentorship programmes that include competition platforms and partnerships with sports federations and development agencies, ensuring that learners from marginalised communities receive opportunities for talent development and long-term support. These interventions collectively contribute to the development of sustainable national talent pathways.

We submit.

supplementary questions, just like you did for Question No.007, so that we take the first and last round and then you respond to all of them at once.

I will give Hon. Beatrice Akinyi an opportunity to ask a supplementary question.

because, you know, being in the city, there is so much and beautiful talent. Can you confirm to this House that the same output is also in this particular City?

Just quickly Cabinet Secretary, what happens to these talents that have excelled during the music festivals? The ones that emerge the best. Where does that end? What do you do as a Ministry? How do you progress that particular talent?

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

not sufficient, so they try to look for support from partners. This is why we are saying that the CBE, which has the three pathways, will work on that aspect so that they have enough resources to conduct the activities outside of being looked at as extracurricular or looking for support from other places.

Capitation has been a problem in this country for many years. It has sometimes come late and sometimes it does not come in full. That is why we undertook that verification exercise, so that we have the exact number of learners at each level. That will inform the actual amount of resources that we require. To meet the policy of Kshs1,420 per learner for primary, Kshs15,040 per learner for junior school and Kshs22,240 per learner for secondary school, we will work with the budget committee, so that our budget is not reduced and is given as presented. It is something of concern, but we are working with the National Treasury to ensure that we resolve the issue once and for all.

One of the other issues that is on the table is to see how to align the financial year to the academic year, so that there is no discrepancy in the resources that are given. In terms of the support that we give to our counties like Kisumu--- Nairobi County also participates exactly the same way Kisumu does. However, as I said, we are working to mainstream this particular aspect of sports and arts to ensure that all our children get a chance to participate if they are interested. We have also suggested and are working with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports to create a further pathway, so that where these young ones are very talented, they can transition to an academy at the level of a university.

There is a team that is already working on how to structure that and what it would cost the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports to form that academy for sports and arts. If somebody is very good at music, they can transition and not necessarily go to the regular universities, but to an academy that will be international in order for them to commercialise their talent. We are currently doing it through Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), but it is not enough. We need to expand it and make it something that is of pride, so that we can have many people coming into that space. We are doing something and working on the numbers, including these particular statistics, so that we can start allocating resources to where they are required, based on the information that we have.

I thank you for your support as a House.

Thank you very much.

of implementation of those commitments, we remind you at any time that you come by the plenary on those commitments which are yet to be honoured.

One, Hon. Cabinet Secretary, regards the question by Hon. Sen. Justice (Rtd.) Stewart Madzayo of 1st October 2025. This was on the question on the beneficiaries of the Elimu and Wings to Fly Scholarship in Kilifi County. You had committed to submit details on that, together with a list of schools in that county that have benefited.

Secondly, on 1st October, 2025 also, was a status report on the question by Sen. Sifuna Edwin of Nairobi on the people who have been prosecuted for the offences of statutory rape across the country, and in Kilifi County specifically since 2024.

Third commitment, was the question by Sen. Wakili Sigei on the status of completion of the hostel construction of Bomet University. This was on 6th August, 2025 and the steps taken by your ministry to protect public interest in the ongoing cases of property belonging to the University of Bomet.

Fourth commitment, is on the question by Senate Majority Leader, Senate---- Sorry, yes, the Senate Majority Leader. This is probably wrong, this is actually a question by Sen. Joyce Korir, not the Senate Majority Leader and Sen. (Prof.) Margaret Kamar, on per county breakdown on the number of unemployed teachers who are yet to be absorbed by the TSC as well as a breakdown on the number of ECDE teachers who have been employed.

Fifth commitment is a question by Sen. Catherine Mumma of 7th May, 2025 on the enrolment of students in TIVET institutions for the year 2025, plus two other commitments thereof on the subject to do with public schools in Mathare, Mukuru, Kibra and other informal settlements in Nairobi City County.

Sixth commitment is to the question by Sen. (Dr.) Boni Khalwale of 7th May, 2025, on information on the amount of money set aside for construction of student hostels at Shamberere and Sigalagala national polytechnics.

Seventh commitment is to the question by Sen. Gataya Mo Fire on 7th May, 2025 on information when the government will disburse Kshs8 million to Kamutuandu Primary School in Gatunga Ward in Tharaka-Nithi County for infrastructure development.

Eighth is the commitment to the question by Sen. Mariam Omar on 7th May, 2025 as well, on the plans by the ministry to integrate the madrasa into the main school system.

Ninth is commitment to the question by Sen. Daniel Maanzo on 7th May, 2025 as well as Sen. Catherine Mumma on the same date, on information on whether Makueni County had been reclassified as a non-hardship area for teachers and if so, provide justification.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, we will give you this schedule, so that if you have not responded to them previously, submit to the House the status of those commitments which you have made.

Lastly, I would like to appreciate you for always being available and always being on top of your responsibility as a Cabinet Secretary. The House will forever be grateful for the responses that you give to the House.

(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Temporary Speaker)

I am being notified, Hon. Cabinet Secretary, that those were already submitted to your office. The House requires from you to submit a status on these prior commitments. It is your time Cabinet Secretary to comment before we adjourn.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education (Hon. Julius Migos Ogamba): Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I wish to confirm that those commitments have been met. We have supplied all the information to the House. We are available to clarify or submit any other information that may be required. We can do that through the Committee on Education, so that we can progress from there.

We thank you for the support you have given us.

Houses rises, based on your response just on these prior commitments, you have undertaken, I believe that is your statement, that you will submit this to the respective committees.

The House will pick up with the relevant chairpersons of the committees, so that the report gets to the plenary and for the Members who are following up on those commitments. Kindly make sure that those reports get to the relevant committees as soon as possible.

Thank you for coming to respond to the questions from this House. We look forward, as always, to having you here because that is the only way to serve the people of Kenya in our various capacities.

[The Cabinet Secretary for Education (Hon. Julius Migos Ogamba) was ushered out of the Chamber]

ADJOURNMENT