Parents in insecurity-prone areas of Kerio Valley will now pay Ksh5,000 annually as school fees, down from Ksh30,000, following an announcement by President William Ruto.
The President, who is on a three-day working tour of the North Rift, said the move aims to encourage the enrolment of more students in schools located in hardship and insecure areas.
Ruto emphasised that the initiative seeks to support families whose livelihoods are frequently disrupted by insecurity and flooding in the region. However, he clarified that the reduced fees would only apply for a specific period.
"Because many of the residents in this area are affected by insecurity, floods, and barely have enough money, we have agreed that, for a period, we will reduce the school fees to Ksh5,000," the President announced.
"We have agreed with the parliament to bring bursaries so that parents can bring only Ksh5,000 annually, Ksh1,500 per term," the president continued.
The three counties that will benefit from this program include Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, and Baringo.
The president was speaking during the opening of the new Liter Girls Secondary School in Marakwet East Sub-County, which was destroyed by mudslides in 2020, claiming 15 lives.
“We have built infrastructure and reduced school fees to encourage enrolment rates and promote education in regions that have experienced the effects of insecurity and floods,” the president reiterated.
The pilot program will begin in 10 secondary schools in Kerio Valley, including Liter and Cheptulel Secondary schools in Sigor, West Pokot County.
Ruto also directed the Ministry of Interior to oversee the reopening of 26 schools that had been closed due to insecurity in the Kerio Valley region. He assured residents that measures had been put in place to address the security situation and achieve lasting peace.
In a bid to ensure the area remains peaceful and to eradicate banditry, President Ruto has instructed the Ministry of Interior to construct permanent barracks in Kerio Valley for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the police, enabling them to better tackle bandits and other criminal groups.
The president seized the opportunity to congratulate the performance of students in the recent Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, particularly in science subjects, attributing the success to increased teacher recruitment and infrastructural development.
