Dismal turnout mark Grade 10 day one admissions to schools across Kisii

Most secondary schools across Kisii County were reporting significantly low turnout for grade 10 during the official reporting date on Monday.

Some closed the business day with as few as 20 admissions.

At Sengera Girls, an Extra County school in Bomachoge Chache, a paltry 15 students had checked in by 12 Monday.

School authorities, however, sounded optimistic saying they were looking forward to at least 300 admissions by Wednesday this week.

Duke Marube, Acting Deputy teacher and who was overseeing the exercise said the school had admitted to the upward of 700 students but only 300 had agreed in the system to join the school.

“We have enough facilities and equipment and urge our community to have faith in us as a school,” he said.

But for Riokindo Boys and its sister school ,Riokindo Girls where teachers were struggling with surging admissions, there were noticeable decline in enrollment at Igorera and Nyachogochogo during the opening day

At Nyachogochogo where form one admissions used to be over 300 during opening, there were less than 50 grade 10 admin by noon.

Nyachogochogo Principal Jared Nyakweba said some students turned up for admissions though their admissions were elsewhere.

“Apparently some parents are not aware about these changes and they just knock in wanting their children to be given immediate admission letters where the situation is complicated,” said Nyakweba who said they were trying to help them anyway.

The school was among the highest performing school registering an 8.7 mean score during the 2025 national exams.

Candidates, Avions Oseko and Collete Nyagora scored A minus and B plus respectively, to put the school on the map.

At Igorera Mixed Secondary school, which registered a mean score of 8.50 in the national exams, school principal Sammy Muruka spoke of system hitches as occasioning delays.

At least 237 out of 267 that have sat the exams secured direct university entry grades, a 89.10 percentage in transition.

At Ndonyo SDA High school, in South Mugirango, Evans Onchwari, school principal, said some parents were yet to fully grasp the new Grade 10 pathways, subject combinations, and career tracks before releasing their children to join secondary school.

“Some parents are cautious because this is a new system .They want clarity on what their children will study and how it links to future careers.” he said

He spoke of financial challenges as also playing a major role.

With the rising cost of living, some families are struggling to raise school fees, purchase uniforms, and meet other admission requirements.

Transport difficulties, particularly in remote areas, have further delayed reporting.

At the neighbouring Ayora Mixed Secondary, school Principal Atera Vincent also decried the low turnout Monday

By 4 in the afternoon only 26 students had turned up against the anticipated 360.

The school registered a mean score of 7.580 in the KCSE exams.

At Riokindo Boys, school principal Gerald Orina urged parents to ensure learners report as soon as possible to avoid disrupting learning programs.

Prolonged absenteeism, he said, could negatively affect students’ adjustment to the new curriculum and school environment.

The National school registered a mean of 9.1 during the national exams.

As the admission period continues, schools remain hopeful that turnout will improve in the coming days.