Gachagua Defends Stance on National School Student Placement

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has defended his earlier position on the criteria used in the placement of students in national schools, a stance that has sparked widespread debate.

Speaking during a press conference in Nyeri County on Friday, January 9, 2026, Gachagua fired back at critics who have accused him of making tribal remarks over the issue. He dismissed the claims, saying his concerns were solely about fairness in the education system.

Gachagua questioned the fairness of the automated placement system, particularly in relation to top national schools in the Mt. Kenya/Central region, including Alliance High School and Mang’u High School. He argued that bright local students from the region were being unfairly placed in lower-ranked or distant schools, while students from other regions were admitted to these elite institutions.

“The issue I have raised, and will continue to raise, is that there must be fairness in the placement of children in national schools,” Gachagua said.

Gachagua Explains Wny National Schools Placement Cannot Continue as Is

At the same time, he clarified that he had not suggested excluding students from outside the locality of national schools from admission, insisting that his remarks had been misinterpreted.

“I have not insisted, and I cannot that children from a particular area must attend schools located in that area. No. What I am saying is that where schools are domiciled, children from that locality who qualify for admission must be given an opportunity.

“I have examples. Parents have called me from Nyanza, Nyeri, Kamusinga High School, Machakos School, schools in Kitui, St Charles Lwanga, and Thika High School, where children from those areas who applied for admission and attained the requisite marks were denied an opportunity,” Gachagua said.

Also Read: FACT CHECK: Viral Alliance and Mang’u Claims on Gachagua’s Admission Remarks

At the same time, the former Deputy President directed criticism at leaders from North Eastern Kenya, whom he accused of continued reliance on affirmative action, following a press conference in which they castigated his remarks.

Former DP Criticises North Eastern Leaders

Gachagua questioned why the region still depends on special consideration in school admissions more than a decade after the introduction of devolution, arguing that county governments and national leaders from the area have received substantial public funding that should have been invested in education infrastructure.

Also Read: Ruto Hits Back at Gachagua over National Schools Admissions Remarks

He maintained that the issue was one of accountability rather than ethnicity, dismissed claims of profiling, and urged leaders to prioritise the development of quality schools in their counties while upholding merit-based admission to national schools.

“This placement must be based on merit for all the children of Kenya. I am saying it is unfair to deny a child an opportunity to join a school of his or her choice despite attaining very high marks, and instead give that opportunity to another child with very low marks. That, in my view, is unfair.

It is uncalled for. Let me also say this, because it is important: leaders from Northern Kenya should stop hiding behind affirmative action,” said Gachagua.

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