President William Ruto has directed all schools across the country to admit grade 10 learners regardless of whether they have paid school fees or have full school uniforms, following the release of KSH.44 billion for first-term.

Speaking in Meru on Thursday, January 22, 2026, during the launch of the Nyota Fund Programme, the head of state said no child should remain at home due to financial constraints.

“I am directing that no child should remain at home because they do not have school fees. Every child must go to school because we have disbursed KSH. 44 billion school capitation,” President Ruto said.

He insisted that the funds were sufficient to cater for both teaching and learning, urging parents, teachers, and local administration to ensure full school attendance.

“In any case, there’s sufficient money for teachers, for our children to be taught in the first term. So every child wawe na school fees, wasiwe na school fees, wawe na uniform, wasiwe na uniform, waende shuleni tomorrow morning,” he added.

The President further instructed chiefs, assistant chiefs, and members of the provincial administration to actively enforce the directive and ensure that all learners report to school by Friday, January 22, 2026.

“Nataka chiefs and assistant chiefs and members of provincial administration, every student should report to school tomorrow because we have provided the money to teach all our children,” Ruto said.

Addressing concerns about school uniforms, especially among Junior Secondary School (JSS) learners transitioning to secondary school, the president offered a temporary solution to ease the burden on parents.

“Kama mtoto ako na uniform ya JSS, anaweza kwenda kuitumia kwa secondary school akingoja mzazi wake apate pesa ya kumnunulia uniform ya secondary school,” he said.

The directive is part of the government’s broader push to enhance access to education and ensure that financial challenges do not disrupt learning for Kenyan children at the start of the academic term.