He insisted that students from the Mt. Kenya region “deserve to be given priority like any other qualified learner.” His remarks have ignited a heated national debate over fairness, merit and regional equity in school admissions.
Speaking during a church service in Githunguri, Kiambu County, on Sunday, Gachagua questioned this decision. He asked why local students with strong academic performances were being posted to lower-ranked institutions. Hence learners from outside the region secured places in prestigious schools such as Alliance High School and Mang’u High School.
He described the placement process as chaotic. It was unfair. He tied his critique to broader concerns about mismanagement in the CBE transition.
Other people are being brought to our schools here like Alliance, Mang’u and others. Meanwhile, our children are placed in lowly-ranked schools despite having higher grades. Gachagua said this, calling for a review of the current system. He urged school heads in the region to give local learners their due.
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However, his comments have drawn sharp rebukes from political leaders and education stakeholders. President William Ruto warned against politicising school admissions. He stressed that placement decisions should be merit-based. These decisions should be free from ethnic or regional considerations.
Critics argue that Gachagua’s stance risks inflaming tribal tensions and undermining national cohesion.
Alumni associations from the implicated national schools have also reaffirmed their institutions. Commitment to national admissions policies, underscoring that placements are conducted based on clear criteria that reflect Kenya’s diversity
Grade 10 learners are preparing to report to senior secondary schools this month. Transparent and equitable placement processes are being called for. These processes continue to shape public discourse.
