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Teff Farming: How a super-grain is becoming Marsabit’s new “Gold”

By
Mike Kwoba
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MARSABIT – Testimonies from local farmers and agricultural experts show that teff farming is rapidly gaining popularity among smallholders and pastoralists across Kenya’s arid north. Its dramatic rise in adoption is directly linked to its exceptional climate resilience, inherent pest tolerance, high nutritional value for both humans and livestock, and surging demand across local and international markets.

Marsabit has been among the counties hardest hit by climate shocks in Eastern Africa. The region has suffered catastrophic, multi-season dry spells in recent years most notably a historic drought rated as the worst in 40 years across the Horn of Africa, followed by severe recurring dry shocks into late 2025 and early 2026 that pushed over 120,000 residents toward acute food and water insecurity.

During the peak of the crisis, tens of thousands of households faced extreme food shortages, with families in areas like Sagante forced to boil and consume wild medicinal leaves such as moringa (shaleda) just to survive. Up to 80% of local water sources and major boreholes dried up or broke down, forcing residents in remote areas like Dukana, Laisamis, and North Horr to trek 10 to 20 kilometers daily for scarce, brackish water.

Pastoralists lost massive numbers of cattle, goats, and camels, devastating the core economic lifeline of the region and leaving fields covered in animal carcasses. Failed rains over six consecutive seasons wiped out roughly 75% of livestock amounting to over 700,000 animals according to the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) while acute malnutrition rates among children under five spiked significantly past emergency thresholds. Following these catastrophic losses, farmers and agro-pastoralists actively pivoted toward drought-tolerant, fast-maturing crops including teff, fodder grass, and moringa.

This agricultural transition aligns with broader government initiatives promoting climate-resilient grains. The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) has listed teff as a superior food choice for human consumption as well as high-grade livestock feed. The crop requires as little as 300mm of rainfall annually, thrives in temperatures ranging between 15°C and 35°C, and flourishes across diverse soil conditions that suit Marsabit’s environment.

Teff (Eragrostis tef) is a fine-stemmed, annual cereal grass native to the Horn of Africa, famous for producing the smallest edible grain in the world. Long serving as a vital dietary staple and major cash crop in Ethiopia and Eritrea, its cultivation has expanded rapidly into dry regions of Kenya like Marsabit as a high-value staple.

Farmers report that teff delivers double the financial returns compared to maize and other traditional cereals, serving seamlessly as both a subsistence crop and a cash generator. It is also increasingly embraced as an affordable alternative to wheat and rice amid high global grain prices triggered by international conflicts.

A field visit from Marsabit town to surrounding villages including Nyayo Road, Dakabaricha, and Sagante-Jaldesa in Saku Constituency highlights the crop’s growing footprint. In Dakabaricha, members of the Hamme Harda Farmers Marketing Co-operative Society Limited are actively harvesting their fields. Chairman Solomon Mulato shares that the group launched in 2016 with 62 members and has grown to 129 farmers working eight acres.

The co-operative initially grew maize and beans but switched to teff in 2019 after receiving targeted training and realizing Marsabit’s climate and soils were ideal for the grain. Former chairman and founder Mzee Gabriel Guyo notes that teff is native to Ethiopia, where it forms the backbone of the national diet. The crop matures in just 45 to 60 days, growing with the speed of grass and allowing farmers to secure fast financial returns. Once mature, it is harvested like grass and stored in traditional outdoor wooden granaries.

Teff commands high prices on the open market, with a single kilogram of clean grain selling for Sh300 to Sh350, while a standard 90kg bag fetches up to Sh30,000. For the current season, the Hamme Harda Co-operative expects to earn about Sh300,000 from four acres of teff, alongside another four acres planted with beans.

Beyond grain sales, teff flour is versatile, used to bake chapati, mandazi, cake, biscuits, and traditional delicacies like Fike and Anjera a fermented, spongy flatbread. The leftover husks and stalks are utilized as nutrient-rich fodder, which cows and goats consume readily during dry spells. Mzee Guyo adds that the crop residue left in the fields also improves long-term soil fertility and prevents erosion.

The success of the Hamme Harda Co-operative has made it a model for the region, attracting institutional support including a dedicated milling machine from the World Food Programme (WFP), as well as educational visits from university students and researchers. Chairman Mulato highlights that women and youth benefit significantly through expanded employment opportunities along the teff value chain. Local farmers, including Mama Mary Yatte of Nyayo Road and Mama Machu Kerto of Saku, confirm that teff products are now widely enjoyed by both locals and non-locals.

Agricultural experts strongly validate the crop’s technical benefits. KALRO Deputy Director General Dr. Felister Makini states that teff is significantly more climate-resilient than maize, millet, or wheat. The grain ranges in color from white and red to dark brown and produces high-quality flour for Anjera.

Dr. Harun Warui of the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Dr. Hassan Guyo Roba of The Christensen Fund (TCF) emphasize that teff is rich in protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and dietary fiber, making it ideal for managing lifestyle diseases. Furthermore, it exhibits natural pest resistance and stores longer without spoiling, even when kept in basic traditional granaries.

Saku Sub-County Agriculture Officer Duba Nura, working alongside KALRO under the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP), attributes teff’s rising popularity in Marsabit to its extreme environmental resilience. He notes that other Kenyan counties cultivating it include Machakos and Narok, while on an international scale, it is grown commercially in the United States and South Africa.

Nura reports that KALRO has approved over 13 teff seed varieties for local farmers, including Marsabit 1, Marsabit 2, Lusike White, KisTeff 1, AilaRed, KIM-1, KIM-2, KisTeff 2, KIB-26, and KIB-27. In a recent season, about 2,000 farmers across 45 self-help groups cultivated 237.6 acres in Moyale and Saku sub-counties, with 185.7 acres confirmed by the Agriculture Department after heavy rains affected certain plots.

Despite localized weather challenges, the farmers harvested over 496 bags of 90kg each, generating projected earnings of over Sh15.6 million for the county. Addressing farmers’ requests for water pans to support supplementary irrigation, Nura notes that planning is underway, though teff currently relies primarily on rainfall. He continues to urge farmers across Marsabit and other dryland counties to adopt teff as a permanent solution to regional food insecurity.

MCK sets new rules for Journalists seeking political office ahead of 2027

By
Binti Wangila
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Journalists planning to contest elective positions in the 2027 General Election will have to step away from key newsroom duties once they are officially declared candidates, under new guidelines issued by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).

The guidelines require journalist candidates to temporarily stop on-air presentation, daily column writing, direct news gathering and editing until the electoral period is over.

MCK says the measures are designed to prevent conflicts of interest and protect the accuracy, fairness, impartiality and editorial independence of the media while allowing journalists to exercise their constitutional right to participate in politics.

The rules apply to journalists and media practitioners who declare an intention to contest an elective position, participate in a political party nomination process, become candidates or take up political roles that could create an actual or perceived conflict with their professional duties.

The Council has made it clear, however, that journalists will not be required to resign from their jobs or lose their employment benefits simply because they decide to pursue political office.

Instead, media organisations may reassign such journalists to duties that do not interfere with their political activities.

Under the guidelines, journalists must also disclose their political ambitions or candidature to their employers and the Media Council.

They will be expected to keep their professional responsibilities separate from their personal political interests and avoid situations that could compromise, or appear to compromise, their independence.

“A journalist or media practitioner participating in a political party nomination process shall take reasonable measures to ensure that the person’s political activities do not compromise the independence, fairness or impartiality of the person’s professional media functions,” MCK said.

Journalists will also be prohibited from using their professional status, media platforms, confidential information, access or other resources obtained through their work to promote their political campaigns or partisan interests.

A journalist who becomes a candidate will not be allowed to cover stories directly connected to their campaign or perform duties that could give them an unfair electoral advantage.

Media houses have also been directed to put measures in place to manage conflicts of interest when journalists enter politics. These could include changing their assignments, separating campaign activities from newsroom work and restricting the use of media resources for political purposes.

The guidelines further require media organisations to clearly identify political advertisements, maintain records of sponsored political content and establish systems to detect manipulated content, including deepfakes, cloned audio and other forms of digitally altered material.

Political advertisements involving journalist candidates must clearly state that they are paid political advertisements and must not use a media organisation’s branding in a way that suggests institutional endorsement.

Journalist candidates will also be barred from using official social media accounts or digital platforms belonging to their media organisations to campaign.

MCK has stressed that election coverage must remain accurate, fair and impartial. Candidates who have worked or are still working in the media should not receive undue prominence because of their previous or current media positions.

Freelance and independent journalist candidates will also be expected to observe the rules and avoid publishing material that promotes their campaigns or undermines their professional independence.

Anyone who believes the guidelines have been breached will be able to lodge a complaint with the Media Council.

MCK says election-related complaints should be submitted during the election period or as soon as reasonably possible after an alleged violation.

The Council will acknowledge complaints within 24 hours and conduct a preliminary assessment within 72 hours to determine whether the matter falls within its mandate, whether there appears to be a breach and whether further action is required.

The Council may fast-track cases where delays could affect the electoral process or cause continued harm, while ensuring all parties are treated fairly.

The new guidelines come as journalists increasingly consider entering politics ahead of the 2027 General Election, raising questions about how to balance their constitutional political rights with the need to maintain public confidence in independent journalism.

MCK has invited journalists, media organisations and other stakeholders to submit their views on the guidelines to its Regulatory Affairs department by September 3, 2026.

Lodwar Township MCA Ruth Kuya settles hospital bills for 21 stranded mothers

By
Edgar Kalimbo
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LODWAR – Twenty-one young mothers detained at the Lodwar County Referral Hospital (LCRH) maternity ward over unpaid medical bills have been cleared to go home following a timely intervention by Lodwar Township Ward MCA Hon. Ruth Kuya, popularly known as Mama Ni Moja. Joining forces with LCRH Chief Officer Mr. Dominic Emase, the leaders fully settled the outstanding balances for the mothers, who had been unable to leave the facility after delivering their babies.

Speaking during the exercise on Thursday, August 20, 2026, Hon. Kuya emphasized that her action was driven by a deep conviction that no woman should remain in a hospital ward simply due to financial hardship after bringing new life into the world. She noted that true leadership is about touching lives, restoring hope, and stepping up to make a meaningful difference when community members need it most.

Echoing her sentiments, Chief Officer Dominic Emase reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to ensuring patients leave with dignity. He highlighted that childbirth ought to be a celebration rather than a source of financial distress, adding that clearing the bills allows these mothers to reunite with their families and focus on caring for their newborns.

The relief was palpable among the beneficiaries, with Akiru Alice expressing profound gratitude on behalf of the group. She shared that many of them had completely lost hope of leaving anytime soon, and the support gave them back their freedom and the opportunity to begin postnatal care in the comfort of their homes.

Local residents commended the gesture, describing it as an example of practical, community-centered leadership that directly addresses the challenges faced by vulnerable groups. For the 21 young mothers, the clearance provided far more than financial aid it brought an end to days of anxious uncertainty, restored their dignity, and allowed them to finally start their journey of motherhood at home.

Dadaab MP Farah Maalim warns Duale: ‘We can mount a 14-day campaign to remove you’

By
Dominic Barasa
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Garissa,— Dadaab MP Farah Maalim has warned Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale against what he described as interference in political affairs in the North Eastern region, saying residents could mount a campaign calling on President William Ruto to remove him from Cabinet.

Maalim said local leaders and residents could push for Duale’s removal if he continued involving himself in political matters affecting other leaders and communities in the region.

He made the remarks during a political meeting organised by a section of the Aulihan community in support of Garissa gubernatorial candidate Abdul Haji.

Speaking in Somali, Maalim said some people close to Duale had given him the nickname “Sultan Hasid,” which he translated as “the jealous Sultan”, over what he claimed was the CS’s continued involvement in regional political affairs.

“It is not us who called you Sultan Hasid; it was not the people of Wajir or Mandera, but people close to you. We are not jealous like him, because if we start pushing for that action, it would not take even 14 days to remove you from that position,” Maalim said.

Maalim argued that President Ruto would not choose to side with one individual against a larger section of the electorate, particularly when the administration needs the support of voters in the region.

The Dadaab MP urged Duale to scale back what he described as his growing involvement in local political affairs.

“Please slow down; you are still young. We have held back many times to protect you, but if you continue, we will no longer protect you,” he said.

Maalim stressed that he had no objection to Duale serving in Cabinet but warned that he would oppose what he described as attempts to interfere in political affairs across the region.

“Calm down and enjoy the position you have been given. We have no problem with you, and we are happy that one of our own holds a Cabinet position, but we cannot accept this behaviour of interfering everywhere,” Maalim said.

The former Lagdera MP said Somali leaders and communities should remain united on issues affecting the region.

He also reaffirmed his support for Abdul Haji’s bid for the Garissa governor’s seat, warning those opposed to the campaign that they could face strong political resistance.

Maalim’s remarks add to growing political tensions surrounding Duale in North Eastern Kenya, where some leaders have criticised his involvement in regional political affairs.

The Health CS has also faced scrutiny at the national level after being summoned by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) over remarks allegedly targeting the Kikuyu community.

The latest remarks are likely to deepen the political contest in Garissa as rival factions position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Turkana residents demand accountability over sh900 million county bursary funds

By
Nanyei Dorcas
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LODWAR — Turkana residents have raised serious concerns over the management and utilization of county bursary funds, as financially disadvantaged students struggle to raise tuition fees for university and higher education institutions ahead of the September intake.

The residents are questioning county leaders, local Members of Parliament, and the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education regarding the overall effectiveness of the bursary programme. They report that numerous deserving students remain unable to join institutions of higher learning despite securing valid admission letters.

Several students who recently completed secondary school and secured university placements are reportedly unable to report for their studies as the September intake deadline approaches, purely due to an inability to raise required fees.

One resident, Master Bakari, questioned the core purpose of the county bursary initiative if it fails to intervene during critical transitions.

“What role is the county bursary programme playing in cases like this? If a deserving student from a humble background has secured admission to university but is unable to raise fees, this is exactly where bursary support should make a difference,” Bakari stated.

Bakari urged the Education Department and the local bursary committee to urgently assess cases involving needy students and provide immediate financial support to those who qualify.

“We should not wait until a young Turkana student’s university dream collapses before asking questions. The Education Department and the bursary committee should urgently assess this case and, where she qualifies, support her. Education is not a privilege for the well-connected. It should be an opportunity for every deserving child of Turkana,” he said, while also appealing to well-wishers to step in.

Another resident, known as The Straw Man, challenged the actual disposition of the funds given the vast sums allocated annually.

“There is a Sh900 million bursary, yet there are students who have failed to raise fees. MPs and the CECM for Education should tell us where our bursary money is going,” he said.

Echoing these concerns, Talian Hindrah called for clear accountability within the sector, urging political leaders to prioritize educational results over campaign ambitions.

“The CECM is busy looking for an MP seat, while residents first need to see results in education. Let us leave politics aside and tell us where our bursary money is,” Hindrah added.

Community members are demanding full transparency regarding how bursary funds are allocated, how beneficiaries are identified, and what immediate measures are being put in place to ensure vulnerable, qualifying students receive support before the September intake closes.

Kenyan diaspora emerges as key target ahead of 2027 elections

By
Binti Wangila
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Kenyan political groups are increasingly turning their attention to citizens living abroad as they build support ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Opposition-linked groups are using virtual meetings and international outreach to engage Kenyans in the diaspora, who are seen as important not only for their votes but also for their financial contributions, skills and influence.

The Linda Mwananchi Movement, led by Senator Edwin Sifuna, will on Saturday, August 22, hold a virtual town hall with Kenyans living abroad. The session is scheduled to begin at 5pm East African Time.

Bumula MP Jack Wamboka announced the engagement on Friday, saying Kenyans abroad have an important role to play in shaping the country’s future.

He said their contribution goes beyond sending money home and includes professional expertise, innovation and access to international opportunities.

“This Saturday, Edwin Sifuna and the Linda Mwananchi team will engage Kenyans in the diaspora in a virtual conversation on the future of our country. Your voice matters, wherever you are. Let’s connect, listen and build a better Kenya together,” Wamboka said.

Linda Mwananchi is also planning to expand its political outreach beyond traditional county-to-county rallies after its planned rally in Meru on August 30.

The movement says it will increasingly use university engagements and town hall meetings to speak directly to Kenyans and present its agenda ahead of the August 10, 2027 election.

The growing focus on the diaspora comes as opposition leaders seek to build wider support ahead of the elections.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has also been reaching out to Kenyans living abroad as part of his political strategy.

Gachagua is expected to visit the United States following his recent engagement with Kenyans in the United Kingdom, where he sought support for his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).

During his UK tour, Gachagua also appealed to Kenyans in the diaspora to help raise funds for the party, saying the money would support party operations and the nomination of candidates ahead of next year’s political contests.

He has also proposed giving Kenyans living abroad a bigger role in government if his political camp wins the 2027 election.

Among his proposals is to reserve nomination positions for diaspora representatives in the National Assembly, Senate and county assemblies.

Gachagua has also proposed involving Kenyans abroad more directly in government affairs and appointing members of the diaspora to manage some Kenyan embassies, arguing that they better understand the challenges facing citizens living outside the country.

The growing political attention on the diaspora is also linked to the rising number of Kenyans registered to vote abroad.

In the 2022 General Election, 10,444 Kenyans living abroad were registered as voters, up from 4,223 in 2017.

However, diaspora voters are currently allowed to vote only in the presidential election. They cannot vote for governors, senators, National Assembly members or members of county assemblies.

Voting for Kenyans abroad is currently available in 12 countries: Burundi, Canada, Germany, Qatar, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda, the United Kingdom and the United States.

With the 2027 presidential contest expected to attract intense competition, the diaspora is emerging as a potentially important constituency for political parties and movements.

Beyond voting, Kenyans abroad are also being viewed as a source of campaign financing, professional expertise and international networks.

The increased outreach suggests that political leaders are likely to intensify their engagement with the diaspora as the country moves closer to the 2027 General Election.

Samburu County rolls out universal kindergarten, feeding program

By
Paul Lekarikei
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SAMBURU – Samburu County has launched a Universal Transitional Kindergarten and scaled up its school feeding program targeting 40,800 Early Childhood Development (ECD) learners across about 500 centers as schools reopen next week.

This follows a three-year partnership signed between the County Government of Samburu and the Kenya Drylands Education Fund (KDEF) to strengthen delivery and monitoring of food in ECD centres.

Under the deal, KDEF will transport food and independently monitor distribution to ECD centres, while the county will procure the food. The food will be delivered to around 500 schools over the next three years.

County Education CECM Mark Egelan said access to education will also help reduce crime, noting children in school are less likely to engage in theft and criminal activities.

Egelan thanked KDEF for supporting education in Samburu and called on other education partners to collaborate with the county. He said the county will ensure food is available and delivered, and thanked Governor Lati Lelelit for allocating food funds in the county budget.

“If children’s education was not prioritized by county leadership, the feeding funds would not have been in the budget,” Egelan said.

KDEF Administrator Ahmed Kura said their responsibility now is to ensure food reaches all 500 schools for three years, adding their main goal is to support the county to provide children with education and a conducive learning environment.

The event was attended by County Secretary Wilson Lesuuda, CECM Education Mark Egelan, KDEF Administrator Ahmed Kura, members of the County Assembly Education Committee, Chief Officer for Education Sarafino Lasangurikuri, Chief Officer for Roads and Transport David Lenakula, and other senior county officials.

Kenya targets AFCON 2027 opening and closing ceremonies

By
Binti Wangila
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Kenya is positioning itself to host both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with officials saying preparations for the tournament have reached 80 per cent.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) says the near-completion of the new Talanta Raila Odinga Stadium has strengthened Kenya’s chances of securing the two major ceremonies.

LOC chairman and former CECAFA Secretary General Nicholas Musonye told Parliament’s Select Committee on Regional Integration that the stadium is now 95 per cent complete.

“We stand a good chance to host both the opening and closing ceremonies because the new Talanta Raila Odinga Stadium is at 95 per cent completion,” Musonye said.

He also pointed to Kenya’s security and hospitality facilities as other advantages that could work in the country’s favour when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) carries out its assessments.

“We also have good security and the best hotels in the region. We are confident that CAF will give us a good ranking when they come for the audit,” he said.

Kenya will co-host AFCON 2027 with Uganda and Tanzania under the Pamoja AFCON arrangement. The tournament is scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17, 2027.

The three countries are working together on stadiums, accommodation, security, transport, media facilities and other requirements needed for the continental tournament. They are also developing a common visa arrangement to make movement between the three host countries easier for fans and visitors.

The Principal Secretary in the State Department for Sports, Elija Mwangi, and members of the LOC assured MPs that Kenya is working to meet its responsibilities as one of the three host nations.

Parliament’s Select Committee said it was encouraged by the progress and pledged to continue monitoring the preparations.

Nominated MP Irene Mayaka said Parliament would support the preparations and conduct inspections of stadiums in Kenya, with possible visits to facilities in Uganda and Tanzania.

“We have been following your preparations closely, and we just want to encourage you. We want to ensure that everything is on track,” Mayaka said.

Beyond the tournament itself, organisers believe AFCON 2027 could leave Kenya with improved sports facilities and wider economic opportunities.

Musonye said projects being undertaken for the tournament would strengthen the country’s ability to host major international sporting events in the future.

Among the key projects are the 60,000-seat Raila Odinga International Stadium, the renovation of Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, and work on Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret.

Musonye said the investment could eventually allow Kenya to host AFCON on its own.

“Eventually, Kenya alone will be able to host AFCON at some point, perhaps in the next 10 years,” he said.

He said the biggest long-term benefit would be the infrastructure being developed for the tournament.

“Infrastructure is going to be the main benefit. This is going to be a legacy that AFCON will leave behind for generations to come,” Musonye said.

The organisers also expect the tournament to boost tourism, trade and business across East Africa as thousands of fans and visitors move between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Musonye said the joint hosting could also strengthen regional cooperation beyond the three host countries.

“Apart from that, we are going to have the East African Community benefits — tourism, trade and all that,” he said.

With preparations now entering a critical stage, Kenya’s focus is on completing the remaining infrastructure and meeting CAF requirements as it seeks not only to host AFCON matches but also to secure the tournament’s opening and closing ceremonies.

MPs move to cap senior school streams as C1 institutions face growing ressure

By
Binti Wangila
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Kenya’s most popular senior schools could soon face limits on the number of students they admit under a proposal before Parliament aimed at reducing overcrowding and spreading learners more evenly across schools.

The proposal by Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo seeks to limit Category One (C1) schools to 10 streams, Category Two (C2) schools to eight, Category Three (C3) schools to five and Category Four (C4) schools to three.

Each stream would have a maximum of 40 students.

If adopted, a C1 school would therefore admit a maximum of 400 students in each intake.

The proposal comes amid growing concerns that many parents prefer C1 and C2 schools, leaving some C3 and C4 institutions with very few students and limited funding.

Parliament’s motion notes that some C1 and C2 schools admitted Grade 10 students at more than twice their approved capacity during the first senior school intake in January 2026. At the same time, some C3 and C4 schools remained under-enrolled.

Gisairo said the current funding system, where government money largely follows the number of students in a school, may be encouraging institutions to admit more learners than their facilities can comfortably support.

“Money follows the child; some schools have turned to exam cheating to attract more students and get more money,” Gisairo said.

He also argued that the high demand for a few schools was putting pressure on teachers and reducing the amount of time they can spend with individual learners.

The MP wants the government to review the capitation formula so that schools receive funding based not only on student numbers but also on their actual infrastructure and capacity.

The proposal also calls for more investment in C3 and C4 schools, including classrooms, laboratories, ICT facilities, sanitation and other essential facilities.

The aim is to improve the quality of these schools and give parents more confidence in enrolling their children there.

Nominated MP Dorothy Kiara said parents were also contributing to the problem by preferring schools with well-known names.

“We all want to take our children to schools with a title. It’s us the elite who want our children to go to Lenana, Nairobi School and others,” Kiara said.

She said this pressure forces some schools to take in more students than they can accommodate.

Suba South North MP Millie Odhiambo also raised concerns about the imbalance, saying some schools in her constituency have very few students because families prefer C1 and C2 institutions.

“One of the schools in my constituency has seven students because everyone is running to C1 and C3 schools,” Odhiambo said.

She warned that overcrowding was also putting pressure on teachers.

“It is not possible to inculcate values to over 500 students in a class; it’s like a political rally, yet it’s supposed to be a school,” she said.

The four categories broadly represent the former national, extra-county, county and sub-county schools.

Kenya currently has 204 public C1 schools, 692 C2 schools, 1,373 C3 schools and 7,234 C4 schools, according to Ministry of Education data.

The debate comes as Kenya continues to implement the Competency-Based Education system, with concerns growing over differences in resources, enrolment and performance between school categories.

A 2026 senior school survey by Usawa Agenda found that C1 schools had an average of 60 learners per stream in Form Two, compared with 43 in C4 schools. The figures were 56 against 40 in Form Three and 55 against 40 in Form Four.

The survey also found that C1 schools had better access to facilities. About 89.8 per cent had operational computer laboratories, compared with 18.6 per cent of C4 schools, while 79.3 per cent of C1 schools had libraries compared with 29.1 per cent of C4 schools.

C1 learners were also more than eight times as likely to attain C+ and above in KCSE compared with learners in C4 schools, although the survey cautioned that school category alone does not explain the difference.

If approved, the proposed changes would affect the placement of Grade 10 learners from January 2027.

The move would shift the focus towards matching student numbers with the actual capacity of schools while giving C3 and C4 institutions a greater chance to attract learners and reducing pressure on the country’s most sought-after senior schools.

Ministry mourns seven killed in tragic helicopter crash in Samburu

By
Vincent Amara
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The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has expressed its deepest condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of the seven people who lost their lives in a tragic helicopter crash in Samburu County on August 19, 2026.

In a message of condolence issued following the incident, the Ministry mourned the loss of the seven victims, describing the crash as a tragic incident that has left families and communities grieving.

The helicopter crash occurred in Samburu, an area renowned for its rich wildlife, scenic landscapes and growing tourism activities. The incident has cast a shadow over the region, with the loss of seven lives raising concerns about the safety of aviation operations in the area.

The Ministry conveyed its sympathies to all those affected by the tragedy, particularly the families who are now coming to terms with the sudden loss of their loved ones.

The incident comes as Kenya continues to position its tourism and wildlife sector as a key contributor to the national economy, with Samburu remaining an important destination for both domestic and international visitors. The county is home to diverse wildlife and several conservancies that support tourism, conservation and livelihoods in northern Kenya.

The Ministry’s message comes as authorities continue to deal with the aftermath of the crash and the impact it has had on the affected families and the wider community.

The government is expected to continue working with relevant agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensure that appropriate procedures are followed in the wake of the tragedy.

As the country mourns the seven lives lost, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife urged Kenyans to stand with the bereaved families during this difficult period.

The Ministry reaffirmed its solidarity with the families, friends and communities affected by the tragedy, extending its thoughts and condolences to everyone affected by the loss.

The helicopter crash has once again underscored the profound human cost of aviation accidents and the importance of maintaining the highest possible standards of safety in air operations.

The Ministry said it shares in the grief of the bereaved families and prayed for comfort and strength for them as they navigate the difficult days ahead.

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