NAIROBI, Kenya — Learners under Kenya’s Competency Based Education (CBE) system could soon be required to wear standardised uniforms, following a Ministry of Education proposal aimed at harmonising dress codes across all levels of basic education.
The proposal stems from resolutions adopted during the National Conference on Education held from May 7 to 9, where stakeholders recommended a shift towards a common uniform design intended to promote equity and reduce costs for parents.
Under the plan, schools would retain elements of identity through customised badges attached to the standardised uniforms.
“The Conference resolved that the country should adopt standardised school uniforms across all levels of education, including Comprehensive and Senior Schools, in order to promote uniformity, equity, and affordability. Schools shall, however, be permitted to maintain distinct identity through specific uniform badges,” the resolution stated.
According to the recommendations, the policy would apply across all basic education institutions, including Comprehensive Schools and Senior Schools under the CBE framework.
The conference also proposed that the cost of school uniforms be regulated and capped, in an effort to ease the financial burden on parents and guardians.
The Ministry of Education said the reforms respond to long-standing concerns over the high and often inconsistent cost of school uniforms across the country.
However, some education stakeholders argue that the proposal does not address the root causes of the problem, pointing instead to pricing structures and distribution systems as the main drivers of inflated costs.
Education specialist Boaz Waruku cautioned that focusing on uniform design alone may not resolve the broader affordability challenge.
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“I would be hesitant to laud the government in trying to address a problem from a wrong angle. The angle is on the cost, which is based on materials, how they are charged, and the centralisation of distribution, where certain institutions collude with certain distributors and inflate those costs,” Waruku said.
Separately, Members of Parliament have proposed a motion seeking tighter regulations to eliminate compulsory uniform purchases and additional school-related charges, reinforcing constitutional provisions guaranteeing free and compulsory basic education.
The motion also recommends that parents be allowed to purchase uniforms from vendors of their choice, provided the clothing meets approved school standards.
