- The schools have received more than 100,000 applications against available slots of less than 1000.
- Other schools in that category are Pangani Girls (119,265), Maseno School (105,504), and Alliance Girls (104,763).
Image: ANDREW KASUKU
Kabianga High School in Kericho county was the most preferred choice for the 2022 KCPE class who are set to start their secondary education next month.
Education CS Ezekiel Machogu, while unveiling the students' placement, said Kabianga was among 10 national schools that received more than 100,000 applications against available slots of less than 1,000.
This means most students who wish to be enrolled in the 10 schools will miss out.
"Kabianga High, a national school in Kericho county, had 153,074 applications against the available population of 768 slots," Machogu said.
Last year, Nanyuki High was the most preferred school, receiving more than 188,000 applications.
This year, Nanyuki received 148,827 against 576 slots.
"Nyandarua High School received 137,511 applications against a capacity of 240 slots," Machogu said.
Other schools in that category are Pangani Girls (119,265), Maseno School (105,504), Alliance Girls (104,763), Nakuru High (103,909), Kapsabet Boys (99,542), Mang'u High (98,146) and Butere Girls (95,550.)
Machogu said 33,984 students from 2,673 primary schools did not select any secondary school that they would want to join.
"I direct county directors of education to establish the concerned schools with a view of instituting administrative actions against the headteachers and/or schools management for failing to adequately register learners for examinations," he said.
From the statistics, 19,794 female students and 20,178 students were placed in national schools.
"At the extra county level, 111,105 females, 117,055 males and another 107,461 females, 91,566 male students were placed in county schools," he said.
The selection criteria was based on merit, choice, equity and availability of space.
This year, slum school students were also placed in top performing secondary schools.
"In this year's selection, 270 students from slum areas were placed in national and extra county schools of their choice," he added.
For the first time, the ministry also placed 9,019 learners from primary schools located in refugee camps in public secondary schools.
Machogu also revealed a number of counties whose capacity cannot host the given number of students.
"To mitigate the shortfall, candidates were placed in other counties with sufficient capacities," he said.
For instance, Nairobi county, with a capacity of 27,145 had a KCPE candidature of 72,232.
This reflects a shortfall of 45,087, the students have been placed in other counties.
"Kilifi has a capacity of 31,258 with a KCPE candidature of 41,470 reflecting a shortfall of 10,212 slots," he said.
More counties that had this shortfall are Mombasa, Kajiado, Turkana, Garissa, Kwale, Taita Taveta, Kitui, Narok, Tana River, Baringo, West Pokot, and Lamu.
Learners will report to Form 1 from February 6 to February 13, 2023.
"I'm directing that all admitted students should be captured on NEMIS by March 2," the CS said.
Parents who are not comfortable with the schools where their learners have been placed were advised to visit relevant authorities.
Public secondary school fees for the 2023 academic calendar year will remain at Sh53,554 while that of county and extra county schools will remain at Sh40,555.