Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi has issued a sharp New Year's critique of the Kenya Kwanza administration and President William Ruto, urging an end to Singapore comparisons amid a collapsing education system. He stressed the need for quality, free education to achieve such development. The remarks come as the first Competency-Based Curriculum cohort prepares to enter Senior School in January 2026.
During New Year celebrations at Machakos Peoples Park in Machakos County, Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi warned President William Ruto to stop "feeding Kenyans on Singapore fairy tales" as the country's education system crumbles under debt and poor planning. He noted that Singapore's transformation relied on a strong education foundation, which he accused the current government of undermining.
"In 2026, please reduce lies. Please ensure that we have quality education which is free. That was the agenda for transforming this country to Singapore," Mwangangi said.
His criticism arrives at a pivotal moment, with many schools lacking infrastructure like labs and specialized classrooms for the incoming Senior School under the Competency-Based Curriculum. "It cannot be that we are talking about taking the country to the level of Singapore without free quality education in Kenya," he added.
Mwangangi called on the government to expedite free placement of students in preferred schools, warning that a future administration would deliver if it fails. However, the Ministry of Education, in a statement on December 31, 2025, dismissed claims of fee hikes in public secondary schools for 2026, affirming that tuition remains free under the Free Day Secondary Education program. The ministry cautioned that schools imposing unauthorized charges would face administrative sanctions.
