Mang’u high school alumni have come out strongly to defend the institution’s national status following renewed public debate over Kenya’s secondary school placement system.
In a press statement released on January 7, 2026, in Thika, the Mang’u High School Alumni Association clarified that the school has always operated as a national institution, admitting students from all parts of the country based on merit and clearly defined quotas that reflect Kenya’s diversity.
The alumni were responding to recent remarks by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua concerning admissions to the school.
While acknowledging the right of leaders to raise concerns on matters of public interest, the association said claims suggesting students from certain regions are admitted at the expense of others misrepresent the mandate of national schools.
“Admission to Mang’u High School has never been restricted by ethnicity, religion, or place of birth,” the statement read, adding that any Kenyan student who meets the admission criteria is eligible for placement.
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The alumni warned that narratives calling for the exclusion of certain communities or urging leaders to establish separate schools for their regions risk undermining national cohesion.
They emphasized that national schools play a critical role in bringing together learners from across the country, fostering unity, shared identity, and mutual understanding.
At the same time, the association supported constructive dialogue around the placement process, urging the Ministry of Education to address genuine operational challenges, including cases where students are posted far from home, which may strain families economically and socially.
They called on leaders and opinion shapers to engage the debate responsibly, stressing that Mang’u High School belongs to all Kenyans and remains committed to the values of fairness, excellence and national unity.
By Kithinji Njeru
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