Group of african american college students having conversation. [Getty Images] University Vice-chancellors from East Africa have called for regional integration, internationalisation, and joint recognition of academic programs. In a three-day National Sensitization Forum on the East African Community (EAC) Common Higher Education Area, the leaders rallied around the goal of transforming the region into a cohesive, globally competitive education hub. The conference held in Nairobi brought together Vice-chancellors, representatives from EAC member states, the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), and the Commission for University Education (CUE). Prof. Banyan Kimbona Executive Secretary, IUCEA hailed the progress already made under the…
Author: By Mike Kihaki
Nominated Senator Crystal Asige and Education CS Julius Migos Ogamba during the launch of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Foundation scholarship programme, dubbed ‘Inuka’,on 7th April 2025, that aims to support secondary and tertiary scholarships for students with disabilities. [Edward Kiplimo,Standard] Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has unveiled an education sponsorship programme to support children with disabilities in secondary education. Dubbed INUKA, the programme aims to bridge the persistent inequality in education access for learners with special needs. Under the program, two bright and needy students with disabilities from each of Kenya’s 47 counties will receive full secondary school sponsorship…
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba (right), Principal Secretaries Belio Kipsang and Beatrice Inyangala during the release of 2024 KCSE results at Mtihani House, Nairobi, on January 9, 2025. [File, Standard] Thousands of students from vulnerable backgrounds across Kenya are unable to collect their KCSE certificates or result slips due to unpaid school fees. This critical document is key to higher education, job opportunities, or even joining vocational training programs. Yet, for many, they remain locked away in school offices. Without their certificates, students cannot apply for Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funding or be placed in universities and Technical and…
A female teacher is giving a math lesson in a classroom. [Getty Images] The government’s proposal to make Mathematics an optional subject at the senior school level under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) has sparked intense debate among stakeholders, with educators, parents, and professionals weighing in on the potential impact of the policy shift. The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has been at the forefront of opposition, arguing that eliminating Mathematics as a compulsory subject could undermine the country’s workforce development and educational standards. According to the union’s Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima, Mathematics remains a foundational subject critical to multiple disciplines,…
Candidates at Nyamachaki Primary School in Nyeri celebrate after sitting Kenya Primary School Education Assessement on November 1, 2023. [File, Standard] Registration for national exams officially closed last month and attention now shifts to the rollout of new assessments, which will be administered under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). This marks a new era of competency-based learning, with the 2025 assessments shaping up to be a litmus test—not just for learners, but for the education system. The big question now is if the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) is prepared to handle this task. More than four million candidates are expected…
European Union Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger during the Erasmus Plus Scholarship cocktail party at EU residence in Nairobi, on July 28, 2022. [File, Standard] A major campaign to attract Kenyan students to European universities is currently underway, following the launch of a recruitment initiative by the European Union Delegation to Kenya. This effort coincides with the increasing demand for global education among Kenya’s youth. The EU’s initiative not only aims to foster academic exchange but also demonstrates a deeper investment in the future workforce and leadership of Kenya. On April 5, 2025, a recruitment fair dubbed ‘Study in Europe’…
Path To Russia CEO and chairman Anna Semenova during a visit to Khuduru Primary School in Busia County. [Courtesy] Poor infrastructure, water scarcity, and alarmingly high dropout rates, particularly among girls, dominated the three-day Russian Cultural Workshop. The event, which brought together students, teachers, and community leaders from across Busia County, sought to blend cultural diplomacy with grassroots educational empowerment. It highlighted the challenges students face in accessing education. At St Peter’s Busibi Girls Secondary School in Samia Sub-County, with 340 students—86 of whom are boarders—the principal, Caroline Barasa, shared the hurdles that hinder academic performance. “Our girls are eager…
Prime Cabinet secretary for foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi addressed the media on 19, March,2025 [ Jenipher Wachie, Standard] Kenya is positioning itself to become Africa’s leading hub for artificial intelligence (AI) model innovation, with a vision focused on sustainable development, economic growth, and social inclusion. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said Kenya aims to lead in AI research and application by harnessing its transformative potential for the future. “In Kenya, there’s already a very serious conversation that is taking place, and our focus is to implement a strategy that provides a comprehensive framework to guide Kenya in harnessing…
Lawyer Charles Nyachae when he appeared before the vetting panel for the position of IEBC chairperson on March 24, 2025. [Collins Oduor, Standard] Lawyer Charles Nyachae now says the Parliament is to blame for the failed implementation. Appearing before IEBC’s selection panel vetting for the position of the commission’s chairperson, Nyachae said it is regrettable that the resistance by the National Assembly had left gaps in the constitutional reform process. The former Chairman of the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) told the panel that despite the commission’s efforts to guide the transition into Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, some…
Mzee Enock Ondego, who sang Kenya Nchi yetu hii ni ya historia. [File, Standard] What does Blasto Ooko, Ernest Waomba and Arthur Kemoli have in common? They were easily among Kenya’s best music composers, but few people know them, and their fortunes did not reflect the richness of their works. If you have hummed or sang to ‘Cha Kutumaini Sina’ or ‘Jiwe la Pembeni’, you have Blasto, who died last month on September 16, to thank. But behind the beautiful harmonies that captivate audiences lie the untold stories of composers who, despite their talent and musical brilliance, struggled to make…