Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot has taken a swipe at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua following his recent remarks on the distribution and admission of students to national schools, accusing him of overlooking a basic reality of Kenya’s education system.
Speaking during a public engagement, Cheruiyot stated that national schools are spread across all regions of the country and are meant to serve students from every corner of Kenya. He cited Kabianga High School, located in his home village in Kericho County, as a clear example.
“Riggy G forgets that national schools are all over Kenya. There are children from Mt Kenya at Kabianga High School, which is in my village,” Cheruiyot remarked.
The senator emphasized that national schools were established to promote national unity, diversity, and equal opportunity, allowing students to interact across ethnic and regional lines. According to Cheruiyot, portraying such institutions as region-specific undermines their core purpose and risks fueling unnecessary divisions.
His comments come amid growing debate sparked by Deputy President Gachagua’s remarks, which some Kenyans interpreted as suggesting regional entitlement in access to top schools. Critics argue that such narratives threaten the spirit of inclusivity that national schools were designed to uphold.
Many Kenyans online echoed Cheruiyot’s sentiments, noting that students from Rift Valley, Mt Kenya, Western, Coast, and Nyanza regions are enrolled across national schools countrywide. Education stakeholders have also weighed in, urging leaders to be cautious with statements that could politicize education.
As the debate continues, observers say the exchange highlights the need for responsible leadership, especially on sensitive national issues such as education, unity, and equal opportunity for all learners.
