The era of treating Kenyan candidates like criminal suspects is over, as President Ruto declares that national exams are now about learning, not a "life or death" paramilitary operation.

Speaking at the 12th National and County Governments Coordinating Summit, the President heralded a psychological shift in the education sector. For decades, the sight of armed officers patrolling primary schools during KCPE and KCSE instilled terror rather than confidence. Ruto’s administration has scrapped this "police state" approach, signaling a move toward a Competency-Based Education (CBE) system that values holistic growth over a single, high-stakes grade.

De-escalating the Classroom

"We had a time when exams were manned by police; now it is part of learning," Ruto stated. This demilitarization is more than symbolic; it is an admission that the previous system was traumatizing children. By removing the guns, the government hopes to remove the fear, allowing students to be assessed on their intellect, not their ability to withstand pressure.

• The Uniform Cartel: Ruto also took aim at the exploitation of parents, ordering that Junior Secondary students can keep their old uniforms. "Some schools charge Ksh 35,000 for uniforms. We must say no," he directed, tackling the "principals' cartel" head-on.
• The Bigger Picture: With the employment of 100,000 new teachers, the focus is shifting from "passing exams" to "gaining skills."

A New Social Contract

This reform strikes a chord with every Kenyan who remembers the anxiety of "judgment day." By lowering the stakes of exams, the government is trying to dismantle the pressure cooker that has fueled cheating, arson, and student depression. Education should be a ladder, not a battlefield. The guns are gone; now the real work of learning begins.