Public hearings on six proposed education reform Bills are entering their second week as Parliament continues to gather views from Kenyans across the country.
The exercise began on September 14 and is scheduled to continue until September 25, with hearings planned in 31 counties.
The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education has divided into two teams to cover the counties before the deadline.
On Monday, the committee is scheduled to hold forums in Turkana and Wajir.
In Turkana, the hearing is taking place at Turkana University College in Lodwar from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. In Wajir, the committee is meeting members of the public at Wajir Teachers’ Training College during the same hours.
The committee is chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly.
Its members are expected to hear views, concerns and recommendations from residents and education stakeholders before the Bills move to the next stage of consideration.
“The committee welcomes members of the public and education stakeholders to participate in the legislative process by sharing their views on the proposed reforms,” the committee said.
Six Bills at the Centre of the Debate
The proposed reforms cover several areas of Kenya’s education system, from university funding and teacher training to examinations and curriculum development.
The Tertiary Education, Placement and Funding Bill, 2026, proposes the creation of the Tertiary Education Funding Authority through the merger of the Higher Education Loans Board, Universities Fund and TVET Fund.
The Bill also proposes expanding the mandate of the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service.
One of its most significant changes is a proposed all-loan funding model for tertiary education. This would replace the current student-centred funding system, which combines loans and scholarships.
The Basic Education Bill, 2026, seeks to replace the Basic Education Act of 2013.
Among its proposals are provisions to formally recognise the comprehensive school model and introduce penalties for schools that charge unauthorised fees.
The proposed legislation would also retain the ban on corporal punishment in schools.
Another Bill, the Kenya National Educational Assessments Council Bill, 2026, proposes replacing the Kenya National Examinations Council with a new body responsible for competency-based assessment.
The Pre-Service Education and In-Service Training Bill, 2026, would make changes to teacher training and continuing professional development.
The other two Bills focus on the Kenya National Qualifications Framework and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.
They include proposals on the tracking and verification of academic credentials, curriculum review and the integration of special-needs education within the competency-based education system.
Concerns Grow Over the Pace of Public Participation
The hearings are taking place as the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers raises concerns about the pace of the process.
KUPPET has questioned whether the available period is sufficient for teachers and other members of the public to properly examine the proposed changes and submit informed views.
The committee, however, is continuing with the scheduled hearings as it works to cover all 31 counties before September 25.
The committee held forums in Narok, Meru, Kajiado and Kirinyaga on Friday.
Kenyans who cannot attend the physical meetings can still submit written memoranda to the Clerk of the National Assembly. The deadline for written submissions is September 24.
The public participation exercise remains ongoing, and the views collected will form part of Parliament’s consideration of the proposed reforms.
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