Murkomen rallies leaders to ensure full transition of learners to senior secondary

Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called on leaders across the country to work together to ensure a 100 per cent transition of learners from junior to senior secondary school.

Speaking in Kasige, Marakwet East Constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County, during the burial of Endo Ward MCA Jeremiah Kibiwott Toryebee, Murkomen urged both national and county leadership to take responsibility for keeping children in school.

“Let all of us work together to ensure full transition from junior to senior secondary school. The County Commissioner and the NGAO team have clear instructions to go to the villages and ensure that all children who are supposed to be in school are attending classes,” he said.

The CS also addressed ongoing government efforts to secure peace in the Kerio Valley, an area historically affected by banditry and inter-communal conflict.

He said the government remains committed to recovering all illegally held firearms and warned that weapons not voluntarily surrendered will be repossessed.

“I want to assure you that the work we have undertaken here to repossess illegal firearms will continue until there are none left in civilian hands,” he said.

Murkomen announced special operations targeting the supply chains of illicit alcohol and drug substances, noting concerns about trafficking through porous borders and commercial distribution networks.

“We will carry out special operations targeting commercial suppliers of adulterated alcohol and drug substances,” he said, adding that the government intends to dismantle networks involved in manufacturing, distribution and supply.

Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wesley Rotich, Deputy Governor Grace Cheserek, Senator William Kisang and MPs Kangogo Bowen (Marakwet East), Adams Kipsanai (Keiyo North), Timothy Kipchumba (Marakwet West) and Caroline Ngelechei (County) were among leaders who attended the funeral, alongside MCAs led by Speaker Lawi Kibire.

The Ministry of Education has extended the reporting deadline to Wednesday, January 21, and adopted a whole-of-society approach to trace and re-engage learners.

This includes activating bursary and sponsorship interventions to support families facing financial difficulties.

Chiefs have been directed to conduct door-to-door tracing and household mapping to identify learners who had not reported, while also convening community sensitisation forums through barazas, religious institutions and other local platforms to mobilise parents and guardians.

“We appreciate all Kenyans who are part of our community-led interventions anchored in local accountability. We are intensifying our targeted interventions to ensure every eligible learner transitions smoothly across all pathways,” the Ministry of Interior said in a statement.

Education CS Julius Ogamba emphasised that achieving a 100 per cent transition rate is critical to preparing learners adequately for national examinations and future career pathways as the CBE system takes root nationwide.