- President William Ruto warned schools against harassing parents through high-priced uniforms, some costing up to KSh 38,000
- He accused the suppliers and schools of colluding to turn the uniform into a corrupt cow blocking admissions
- Ruto ordered that no child should be denied school because of uniforms, insisting government funding addresses learning needs
President William Ruto has issued a warning to schools that are robbing parents and guardians in the business of school uniforms.
Source: Twitter
The head of state noted that uniforms and other school supplies have been turned into cash by exploitative suppliers and vendors who collaborate with schools to rob parents.
He realized that due to high demand, parents were being forced to buy their children’s uniforms at a high price, and if they did not do so, their children’s admission was being prevented.
Speaking at the State House in Nairobi on Saturday, January 23, while launching the Vocational Training Program of the Affordable Housing Program, Ruto said he has focused on the issue and will ensure parents are protected from unfair market practices.
“We will investigate the issue of uniforms because it is becoming another source of corruption. Some schools charge up to KSh 38,000 for uniforms,” he said.
He explained that the government has worked hard to ensure that grant funds are provided on time, and therefore school uniforms should not be an excuse for students to miss school.
“I have ordered that no child will be detained at school because of the uniform. Even if they have a high school, they can move to the high school with the uniform while they wait for the parents to organize,” he said.
Ruto’s comments came a day after the Ministry of Education issued a circular to schools instructing principals to accept all students moving to Grade 10.
Education Cabinet Minister Julius Ogamba said that no student should be denied admission to the institutions assigned to him.
It was previously noted that the lack of uniforms and school fees were among the barriers to admission.
To address this, principals were instructed to allow students to report in their Junior High School uniforms until they could find appropriate clothing.
Regarding the issue of fees, the ministry instructed school principals to fully use the tuition funds that have already been provided, thus giving parents and guardians time to plan their contributions.
The Ministry further clarified that students without high school uniforms would still be allowed to join their respective institutions, and that no child should be excluded on the basis of unpaid fees.
Principals were told to improve the funds provided on January 2, 2026, while allowing families flexibility in fulfilling their responsibilities.
For students who could not be tracked, secondary and high schools were instructed to work with the sub-county education directors and National Government Administrative Officers to ensure their speedy entry.
The government had previously banned public schools from keeping student uniforms.
Responding to complaints, the Ministry of Education noted that some institutions were selling uniforms directly or referring parents to exclusive suppliers who charged inflated prices.
The ministry criticized the actions as illegal and ordered the principals to stop.
In compliance with the law, schools were instructed not to order specific suppliers of uniforms or other equipment, as doing so undermines market balance and competition.
Principals were therefore banned from engaging in the uniform business, with a warning that any violation would attract disciplinary action.
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