The government has put in place the necessary measures to ensure a smooth transition to Grade 10 in January 2026.
The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Education, Julius Ogamba, announced that learners will be expected to join appropriate learning pathways during the transition and assured parents and educators of the government’s preparedness to address emerging challenges.
“We expect all our children to transition smoothly. There will be challenges, but we are ready to address them through consultation with parents, teachers and education stakeholders,” he assured.
Ogamba added that learners who have approaching expectations will still have opportunities in pathways such as arts, social sciences, sports and technical fields, and stressed that the goal of the reform is inclusivity and holistic development.
“Competition is not between one child and another. It is about each learner improving themselves and achieving their full potential,” he said.
The CS was speaking during the Nairobi End-Year O’Mogusii Thanksgiving Service held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Saturday, where leaders used the platform to reflect on the year 2025 progress, where they encouraged responsible citizenship and unity, as the country enters the festive season.
The service, organised by Nairobi County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service Geoffrey Mosiria, brought together more than 7,000 participants drawn from the O’Mogusii community and the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Churches faithful across Nairobi County.
The event was attended by the national and County government officials, among them the Principal Secretary (PS), State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni Kariuki and the Nairobi County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service, Geoffrey Mosiria, faith leaders and members of the public.
The CS, who urged Kenyans to support the ongoing government reforms in the education sector, stressed that sustained public goodwill and unity are critical to the successful transformation of the education sector and national development.
He noted that the reforms in the administration of national examinations have improved integrity in the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).
“We recently released the KJSEA results and recorded very few cases of malpractice. Out of the 1,130,000 candidates who sat for the exams, we only had seven cases of malpractice and in only two subjects from two schools,” he stated.
The CS credited the improved credibility of examinations to the measures put in place to curb cheating and restore public confidence in the education system, adding that this is the first time in a long while where Kenyans are seeing that integrity in examinations is achievable.
The CS said the ongoing education reforms, and in particular, the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) system, is designed to identify and nurture learners’ talents rather than focus solely on examination performance.
“The competency-based education system allows us to see the talent in every child. Education is not just about passing exams but about nurturing ability and preparing learners for life,” Ogamba said.
He explained that under the new assessment framework, learners are evaluated based on whether they are exceeding expectations, Meeting Expectations, Approaching Expectations or Below Expectations, a Model he said, allows teachers and parents to provide targeted support.
“What is important in this system is that we look at the strength of each child. No child has failed, and no child has gone to a useless path,” said Ogamba.
The CS also called on Kenyans to embrace unity and support the elected government of the day, noting that division undermines development efforts, adding that reforms across sectors require patience and cooperation between citizens and leaders as national progress depends on collective responsibility.
The Principal Secretary in the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Kariuki, urged members of the public to exercise caution during this festive season to avoid road accidents.
“Christmas is a happy time, but it is also when our hospitals receive many patients, due to accidents and preventable injuries,” she warned.
“I urge motorists and motorcyclists to observe traffic rules and protect lives.
Do not rush on the road. Wear your seat belts and helmets, rest when tired and never drink and drive,” she cautioned.
The PS, who also warned against the use of alcohol and drug abuse, linking substance use to domestic violence, urged the public to remain vigilant against infectious diseases, particularly during social gatherings and to adhere to hygiene and food safety practices.
The Nairobi County Chief Officer, Geoffrey Mosiria, said the thanksgiving service was aimed at promoting unity, gratitude and collective responsibility within the community.
“Our aim is to bring people together to give thanks for life and health and to encourage empowerment in education, business and healthcare,” Mosiria said.
He noted that faith institutions play a key role in promoting moral values, peace and social cohesion, thereby complementing government efforts to have a united nation. The Chief Officer added that churches and communities are important partners in shaping values and defending life.
Mosiria urged communities to remain united beyond political differences and to work together with government institutions to propel development.
The thanksgiving service that was marked by prayers, worship and reflections provided an opportunity for leaders and citizens to reflect on the year’s achievements and challenges.
As the year draws to a close, leaders urged Kenyans to enter the festive season with gratitude, responsibility and renewed commitment to unity, safety and support for reforms aimed at strengthening education, health and national cohesion.
By Naif Rashid
