A proposal by MPs to the CS for Education Julius Ogamba to scrap school uniforms for pupils has sparked heated debate among parents and education stakeholders, with many warning that the move could confuse schools.
The legislators argue that uniforms have become a tool for exploitation, citing cases where principals force parents to buy from expensive, exclusive suppliers. However, parents, teachers, and school heads say the uniform plays a bigger role than just clothing and should not be removed over procurement malpractices.
Uniforms remain one of the strongest tools for promoting equality in Kenyan classrooms. They mask economic differences between children from well-off families and those from struggling homes. Without a common dress code, learners from poor backgrounds risk stigma and bullying for wearing worn-out clothes, while their peers display designer outfits. The uniform ensures that pupils are judged on discipline and performance, not on what they wear.
Apart from displaying equality, uniforms reinforce discipline and school identity. When a pupil puts on the uniform each morning, they assume the values, rules, and reputation of their school. This sense of belonging builds pride and makes it easier for teachers and prefects to maintain order during lessons, assemblies, and public events. The uniform draws a clear line between home and school, signalling that the learner has entered a space dedicated to education.
Security is another concern raised by stakeholders. Former long-serving Gucha Branch KNUT Chairman Stephen Otundo said uniforms make pupils instantly recognisable to the public. In crowded towns or during emergencies, police, boda boda riders, and shopkeepers can quickly identify the school and help a lost or distressed pupil. Uniforms also help keep strangers out of school compounds. On trips, sports days, and music festivals, teachers can account for their learners at a glance. Removing the dress code, Otundo warned, would make it harder to tell students apart from outsiders and raise safety risks.
Parents point out that uniforms are cost-effective in the long run. While the initial purchase can be heavy for some families, one or two sets usually serve a pupil for the entire year. Without uniforms, households would need to buy multiple casual outfits to help children avoid repeating clothes and facing ridicule from peers. For large families, that expense would be far greater. Uniforms also simplify mornings by ending the daily debate over what to wear, helping children get to school on time.
The dress code further helps maintain decency and focus in school. Adolescents are at a stage where peer influence is strong, and the absence of guidelines could lead to indecent or distracting attire. Uniforms enforce modesty, reduce peer pressure linked to fashion trends, and keep attention on learning. The policy also serves as early training for professional life, since many careers in nursing, aviation, security, and hospitality require official dress.
Weighing in on the debate, former Kisii County, Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Executive Secretary Benson Nyaundi warned politicians against politicising the matter to gain mileage from parents. He asked them to leave the issue to CS for Education Julius Ogamba to handle and find a balanced solution to the alleged exploitation of parents by unscrupulous principals. Nyaundi said the real problem is not the uniform but the corruption around procurement.
READ ALSO: CS Ogamba under pressure from MPs over lax enforcement of school uniform policy
Stakeholders insist that the solution lies in standardising designs per county, licensing multiple tailors, capping prices, and allowing parents to buy from any approved vendor. Scrapping uniforms entirely, they argue, would punish vulnerable children most and introduce unnecessary disorder into the education system.
By our reporter
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