Gachagua Slams School Placement System, Questions Elite Admissions and Accuses Ruto Government of Education Failure and Handout Politics

Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has criticised the government over senior secondary school placements. He said the system is broken. He said it is unfair. He said parents are confused and frustrated.

Gachagua spoke on Sunday at AIPCA Kiratina Church in Githunguri, Kiambu County. He questioned why students from outside Mt. Kenya were admitted to elite schools. He named Alliance High School and Mang’u High School. He said local students with high grades were sent to lower-ranked schools. According to him, the process lacks fairness and clarity.

“This government is confused,” Gachagua said. He argued that merit no longer guides placement. He added that parents do not know where to turn. He warned that confidence in public education is falling.

He then blamed President William Ruto. He said leadership failures start at the top. “A fish rots from the head,” he said. He accused the president of poor priorities. He claimed the government focuses on politics instead of service delivery.

Gachagua also raised alarm over school funding. He said capitation money has not been released. Schools, he claimed, are deep in debt. Principals, he added, are avoiding suppliers. He compared the situation with past reforms. He cited free primary education under Mwai Kibaki. He mentioned free day secondary education under Uhuru Kenyatta. He said those gains are being destroyed.

He outlined his own plans. He promised to restore free secondary education. He pledged fair bursary allocation. He also vowed free medication for expectant mothers if elected president.

Gachagua criticised handout politics. He explained why he did not give Christmas gifts. He said leaders should not steal public funds to buy flour. He argued that handouts strip people of dignity. He said fixing tea, coffee, and milk sectors would raise incomes. “Let people buy Christmas themselves,” he said.

He dismissed talk of turning Kenya into Singapore. He said the country must first fix education. It must also improve basic services. “Only then,” he said, “can Kenya move forward.”