9 senior schools with special pre-selection admission requirements in Kenya

Somewhat, in the 2025 Placements in Senior Schools, some learners were dropped after selecting certain C1 (national) Senior Schools in Kenya. This is the real reason why things wended that way. On matters selection of Senior Schools, Grade 9 learners should know, there are around 9 Senior Schools in Kenya classified in the “Pre-Select” category. The “Pre-Selection” should take place before the main schools’ placement process that happens after release of the summative Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA). This is applicable to Senior Schools established for specific purposes by the pioneers. So, these are Senior Schools offering specialised programmes or taking care of some special category of learners. 

So, according to the policy document titled Guidelines on Selection and Placement of Learners to Senior School (2025), it is stated that a list of “Pre-Selected” learners should be submitted to the Ministry of Education (MoE) so as to shun cases of double placement. Learners placed under that specific category are given the status of “Pre-Select” in the Placement System. 

In that regard, only the learners who selected such Senior Schools during the registration process are considered in the “Pre-Selection”. Then, the Senior Schools in the “Pre-Selection” category are Triple-Pathway Schools. Meaning, they are offering the 3 Career Pathways, which include: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Social Sciences, Arts and Sports Science. Therefore, these are the Senior Schools in the “Pre-Select” category as spelt out in the Careerpedia: Navigating Careers and CBC Pathways by Muhiddin Ngashe, Kaluli Nengo and Reuben Wanyama. 

Firstly, Starehe Boys School and Centre is a C1 (national) boys’ Senior School based in Nairobi City County. The admission slots are reserved for 100% to bright boys from humble backgrounds who have performed well in KJSEA. 

Likewise, Starehe Girls School is also a C1 (national) girls’ Senior School nestled in Nairobi City County. The admission slots are reserved for 100% of girls from humble backgrounds who have performed well in KJSEA. 

Secondly, Moi Forces Academy-Nairobi, is a C1 (national) boys’ Senior School based in Nairobi City County. It is sponsored by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). 80% of admission slots are reserved for bright boys who are sons of military officers with peak performance in KJSEA. 

By the same token, Moi Forces-Lanet is also a C1 (national) girls’ Senior School in Nakuru County sponsored by the KDF. 80% of admission slots are reserved for bright and disciplined girls, daughters of military officers with peak performance in KJSEA.

5. Koelel Forces Academy 

Thirdly, Koelel Forces Academy (KFA) is a C2 (extra-county) boys’ Senior School based in Gilgil, Nakuru County. It is also sponsored by the KDF. 50% of the admission slots are reserved for bright boys, sons of the military officers who have performed well in KJSEA. 

Moreover, Utumishi Boys Academy-Gilgil, is a C1 (national) boys’ Senior School nestled in Gilgil, Nakuru County. It is sponsored by the Kenya Police Service (KPS). 80% of admission slots are reserved for sons of police officers with peerless performance in KJSEA. 

Then, Utumishi Girls Academy is also a C1 (national) girls’ Senior School nestled in Gilgil, Nakuru County. 80% of admission slots are reserved for daughters of police officers with peerless performance in KJSEA. 

Additionally, Moi Tea Girls School is a C1 (national) girls’ Senior School in Kericho County.

Lastly, Uzalendo Academy is a Mixed Day and Boarding Senior School based in Baringo County. 50 % of the admission slots are reserved for children of the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officers with varied KJSEA performance, and with strong moral values.