Majority of Kenyans oppose making secondary school uniform optional — Infotrak

An overwhelming majority of Kenyans are opposed to making secondary school uniforms optional, according to a new survey by Infotrak Research and Consulting.

The survey found that 63 per cent of respondents opposed the idea of scrapping mandatory uniforms in secondary schools, while 43 per cent supported the proposal. A further three per cent of those interviewed said they were unsure.

In the Coast region, opposition to scrapping school uniforms is strong. According to the poll, 64 per cent of respondents said the government should not do away with the uniform requirement, compared to 34 per cent who supported the idea. Only a small fraction, 2 per cent, were undecided.

A similar pattern emerges in North Eastern Kenya, where 59 per cent of respondents opposed the removal of uniforms, while 36 per cent supported it. About 5 per cent said they were not sure.

In the Eastern region, resistance to abolishing uniforms is even more pronounced. The poll shows that 68 per cent of respondents are against doing away with the requirement, while only 30 per cent are in favour. Just 2 per cent were undecided. This makes Eastern one of the regions most firmly opposed to the proposal.

Central Kenya also leans against the proposal, though the margin is narrower. Here, 53 per cent of respondents said “No” to scrapping uniforms, while 43 per cent said “Yes.” About 5 per cent were unsure.

Rift Valley stands out as the only region where a majority supports doing away with the uniform requirement. In this region, 51 per cent of respondents said the government should scrap uniforms, compared to 40 per cent who opposed the idea. About 9 per cent were not sure, the highest level of uncertainty recorded in the poll. 

In Western Kenya, opposition is once again strong. The poll indicates that 64 per cent of respondents are against abolishing uniforms, while 34 per cent support the move. Only 2 per cent were undecided.

Nyanza records the strongest opposition nationwide. A striking 73 per cent of respondents said the government should not do away with the uniform requirement, while just 27 per cent supported the idea. Only 1 per cent were unsure.

In Nairobi, opinions also tilt firmly against scrapping uniforms. According to the poll, 63 per cent of respondents opposed the proposal, while 34 per cent supported it. About 3 per cent were undecided.

The poll, sponsored and financed by Infotrak Research & Consulting Limited was conducted between December 2025 – January 2026.

Quantitative interviews were conducted through Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI) ±3.10 per cent at 95 per cent degree of confidence with a 99 per cent response rate.

The survey sample achieved was 1,000 to represent the universe of adult Kenyans who were 18 years and above at the time of the survey.

The sampling frame was designed using Population Proportionate to size (PPS) guided by the 2019 Census.

The survey covered all the 47 counties and eight regions of Kenya. To ensure national representativeness, the distribution of the survey sample across the regions was proportionately allocated.