The policy document titled Guidelines for Selection and Placement for Learners to Senior Schools (2025) clearly states: Grade 9 learners in Junior School should select their preferred 12 Senior Schools before they sit to write the summative: Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).
Advisedly, in the selection process, 9 of the Senior Schools should be boarding Senior Schools – 3 from the learner’s home county, and 6 from outside their home-county. The other 3 are day Senior Schools in their home sub-county of residence.
Pre- or Post-Selection
Then, as Grade 9 learners engage in this important exercise, they should be acutely aware: there are Senior Schools categorised as Pre- or post-Selection. So, they may miss chances in such Senior Schools in case they opt for them yet they do not meet the requirements.
These are schools started for specific purposes. Grade 9 learners ripe to join Senior School are expected to choose such schools during registration process in Junior School. Names of learners pre-selected are submitted to MoE for avoidance of double selection. By the same token, learners selected under this criterion are assigned status of “Pre-Select.”
So, some of those schools with preferred percentages of admission of special groups include: Starehe Boys Centre and School (100%), Starehe Girls Centre (100%), Moi Forces Academy-Nairobi (80%), Moi Forces Academy-Lanet (80%), Utumishi Boys Academy (80%), Utumishi Girls Academy (80%), Koelel Forces Academy (50%), Uzalendo Academy (50%) and Moi Tea Girls School (40%).
Placement in Senior School
Once Grade 9 learners receive the outcome of the summative Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), they join Senior School in Grade 10: Marking transition from Junior School (Grades 7-9) to Senior School (Grades 10-12). Ideally, for purposes of fairness, equity and transparency in the process, in the 2026 placements in Senior Schools, MoE adopted both Hybrid and County Revenue Allocation (CRA) formula. The latter formula is used in distribution of funds to the 47 counties across the country. The formula considers a raft of fascinating factors such as population, performance, poverty level, distance to school, school size and infrastructure.
Hybrid and CRA Placement Formulas
Ideally, under the CRA formula, Senior Schools located in larger and populous counties such as Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kakamega and Bungoma; receive more slots. Therefore, 42% of placement consideration is based on county’s population, allowing larger counties to receive a proportionate number of slots. Then, 22% is determined by learner academic performance or merit. Consequently, 14% takes into consideration poverty levels. Thereby supporting learners from disadvantaged areas. Additionally, 13% considers distance to school so as to reduce travel barriers.
Moreover, 9% focuses on school size and infrastructure: to help in matching students to institutions with sufficient facilities. Then, when MoE was conducting 2026 placements in Senior Schools, it seemed both Principals and parents were not sated by the CRA formula. Therefore, MoE had to adopt the Hybrid Model. So, parents were given latitude to seek vacancies of their children in Senior Schools of choice and preference so long as there were vacancies in such Senior Schools.
Revision of Placement Process
Actually, policy spells out, Grade 9 learners who are unhappy about placements, should access success in their online transfers if they adhere to the set raft of good guideline. The ministerial directive is; the review is guided by an automated system – matching preferences to learner’s performance, and availability of slots in Senior Schools. This is sensible because placements abut on pathway strength, but not aggregated total scores. Advisedly, transfer requests must be done formally; submitted digitally through the Head of Junior School using the student’s unique KJSEA assessment number. Approval depends on learner’s preferences, pathway of choice and capacities in Senior Schools.
Before the parent places a request, the desired Senior School must first of all declare available slots through its respective County Director of Education (CDE) or Sub-County Director of Education (SCDE). The KJSEA result slip is needed as the credible proof for assessment results. Likewise, Grade 9 parents should avail birth certificates: to verify identity when updating students’ profiles, as well as a formal transfer request. Once approved, MoE issues joining instructions online.
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Finally, there are some realities parents had to accept. Taking stock of Senior Schools in the country, we have only 204 C1 (national) Senior Schools, 692 C2 (extra-county) Senior Schools, 1,373 C3 (county) Senior Schools and 7, 234 C4 (sub-county) Senior Schools. Therefore, meta-analysis of the data depicts, we have few C1 and C2 Senior Schools in Kenya. Yet, they are the most popularly preferred schools. Somewhat, by balancing optimism with realism, it was a bit tricky to secure a transfer from C2 or C3 or C4 to C1 Senior School.
Victor Ochieng’ is a career educator. He guides Grade 9 learners in Junior Schools on Selection and Placement in Senior Schools, as well as Preparation for Summative KJSEA Assessment, Choice of Career Pathways, Subject-Selection and Career Choices.
By Victor Ochieng’
vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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