The government’s ambitious 100% transition policy is facing a reality check. Interior PS Raymond Omollo has revealed that only 61% of learners have reported to Senior Secondary School (Grade 10), leaving nearly four out of ten students unaccounted for as the first term grinds on.

The statistics paint a worrying picture of the education sector. Despite the deployment of chiefs to track down students, economic hardships and confusion over the new CBC pathway are keeping children at home. "We are mopping up," Omollo assured, but he admitted the numbers are lower than projected.

Why Are They at Home?

The reasons are multifaceted. High fees in boarding schools, lack of facilities in day schools, and a growing disillusionment with the "costly" CBC system are cited by parents. In some regions, drought and insecurity have forced families to choose survival over schooling.

• The Chiefs' Burden: The administration is placing the burden on local chiefs to enforce enrollment. But as one chief in Kilifi noted, "I can force them to school, but I cannot force the principal to admit them without fees."
• The Risk: A 39% dropout rate at this critical stage is a ticking time bomb. It feeds into the cycle of youth unemployment and crime. The government must move beyond "mopping up" to addressing the root cause: the cost of learning.