Kenyan MP Eliminates School Fees Entirely for Day Secondary Students
Nyeri, 20 January 2026
Eric Wamumbi has made education history by completely scrapping the Ksh1,000 termly fee for all day secondary schools in Mathira Constituency, effective immediately. This bold move under his ‘Masomo Kwa Wote Programme’ ensures no child will be denied education due to financial constraints, providing crucial relief to struggling families. The decision follows a competitive trend among Kenyan MPs to reduce education costs, with neighbouring Kiharu MP recently cutting fees to Ksh500 per term.
Implementation Takes Effect Across All Day Schools
The announcement, made on Monday evening, 19 January 2026, applies to all day secondary schools within Mathira Constituency boundaries [1][2]. Wamumbi explained that the fee elimination forms part of his broader ‘Wamumbi Masomo Kwa Wote Programme’, designed to create educational equity across the region [2][3]. The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) MP emphasised that this initiative aims to ease the financial burden on parents while ensuring no child faces educational exclusion due to their family’s economic circumstances [1][2]. The policy change represents a complete removal of the previous Ksh1,000 per term charge that had been levied on day school students [2][3].
Broader Vision for Educational Equity
Wamumbi positioned the fee elimination within a comprehensive framework aimed at promoting fairness, inclusion, and equal opportunity for every learner across Mathira [1][2]. The MP’s statement highlighted that this decision ensures no child will be left behind due to inability to pay school fees [2][3]. This policy shift reflects a strategic approach to addressing educational accessibility challenges that have historically affected families in the constituency [2]. The initiative demonstrates how local parliamentary representation can directly impact educational outcomes through targeted financial interventions [1][2].
Regional Competition in Education Cost Reduction
Wamumbi’s announcement follows closely after neighbouring Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro’s recent educational reforms, announced on 13 January 2026 [1]. Nyoro’s ‘Masomo Bora’ programme reduced day secondary school fees to Ksh500 per term, representing a 50 per cent reduction from the previous Ksh1,000 charge [1]. The Kiharu initiative, launched for its 2026 edition, covers all 65 day secondary schools in that constituency and includes additional benefits such as daily meals for students [1]. Nyoro’s programme provides githeri for three days, rice for three days, porridge during tea breaks, and chapati on the last Friday of each month [1].
Financial Commitments and Infrastructure Development
The Kiharu model, which Mathira’s initiative now surpasses by eliminating fees entirely, includes substantial financial commitments beyond fee reduction [1]. Nyoro allocated an additional Ksh10 million for revision materials in the current financial year, supplementing the Ksh20 million provided in previous years [1]. Furthermore, over Ksh50 million has been designated for infrastructure development, with particular emphasis on laboratory construction and enhancement [1]. These comprehensive educational investments demonstrate the scale of resources that constituencies are directing towards improving secondary education accessibility and quality [1].