The national government has intensified efforts to expand infrastructure for Senior Schools in Kericho County, launching a large-scale construction programme aimed at supporting the transition under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system. The Ministry of Education, working through the county education office, has confirmed that 327 classrooms are being built across the six sub-counties, with officials describing the project as critical to easing congestion and ensuring Grade 10 learners have adequate space ahead of the next academic intake. Kericho County Director of Education Julius Ngoneshi said the new facilities are central to the government’s goal of creating well-equipped spaces for the growing number of learners progressing into Senior School.
According to Ngoneshi, the classroom rollout is being delivered in phases, with 215 rooms already completed under earlier stages and handed over to schools. The first phase saw 45 classrooms constructed across Soin/Sigowet, Belgut, Kipkelion, Bureti, and Londiani, while Phase Two added 170 more, with Bureti and Belgut emerging as the counties with the highest number of new facilities. Phase Three is currently in progress, featuring additional classrooms distributed across 25 schools. Meanwhile, Phase Four is advancing at different rates, with Soin/Sigowet recording the fastest progress after completing 25 of its 28 allocated rooms. The expansions are part of the wider national plan to strengthen infrastructure for institutions offering the STEM, Social Sciences, and Arts and Sports Science pathways.
Education officials, teachers, and parents have welcomed the developments, saying the new classrooms will improve learning conditions and reduce overcrowding, which has long strained schools following increased enrolment under the CBE framework. With mathematics now compulsory for all learners and differentiated pathways requiring specialised spaces, stakeholders say the ongoing construction will support practical learning and adequately prepare students for advanced studies. The Ministry of Education has indicated that more investments are expected in the coming financial years to keep pace with rising demand, with Kericho being among the priority counties due to its expanding student population. Officials maintain that once the final phase is complete, the county will be well-positioned to run fully equipped multi-pathway Senior Schools that align with Kenya’s long-term education reforms.