Kenya’s Ministry of Education has declined more than 100,000 Grade 10 placement review applications, including about 20,000 requests targeting top national schools, citing limited capacity and subject-combination constraints.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba disclosed that while the ministry received 355,457 review applications following the initial placement exercise, only 211,636 requests were approved.
“The remaining applications were largely declined due to the unavailability of preferred subject combinations or because the selected schools had already reached full capacity,” Ogamba said.
Top Schools Flooded With Applications
Elite institutions such as Alliance High School, Kenya High School, and Mangu High School recorded overwhelming demand, with each receiving tens of thousands of applications despite having only about 500 available slots.
Education officials noted that the popularity of a small number of high-performing schools continues to put pressure on the placement system, especially during review periods.
Placement Timeline and Review Process
The initial Grade 10 placement was conducted between December 14 and 19, 2025, followed by a review window that ran from December 23 to 29. During the review process, learners were allowed to submit up to four placement requests.
In response to continued demand, the Ministry has announced a second review window, scheduled to run from January 6 to 9, 2026, for learners seeking alternative placements.
Pathway Distribution Revealed
According to the Ministry of Education, current placements show that:
51 per cent of learners were placed in the STEM pathway
38 per cent entered Social Sciences
11 per cent were assigned to Arts and Sports Science
The distribution reflects the government’s continued emphasis on science and technology-driven education under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Joining Instructions Available
Learners who have already secured placements can now download their joining instructions from the official placement portal as schools prepare for the next academic phase.
Education stakeholders have urged parents and learners to consider a broader range of schools and subject combinations during the second review window to improve their chances of successful placement.
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