Aaron Cheruiyot Explains Why Most MPs Cannot Copy Ndindi Nyoro’s KSh 500 School Fees Plan

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has weighed in on the growing national debate sparked by Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro’s decision to cap public day secondary school fees at KSh 500 per term, explaining why the move cannot be easily replicated by all MPs across the country.

The discussion gained momentum after Ndindi Nyoro unveiled his 2026 education programme in Kiharu Constituency, where thousands of students in public day secondary schools will now pay only KSh 500 per term.

 The initiative was widely celebrated by parents and education stakeholders, with many Kenyans questioning why other MPs had not adopted similar measures in their own constituencies.

Responding to the public pressure, Aaron Cheruiyot cautioned against making direct comparisons between constituencies, stating that education financing realities differ significantly from one region to another.

According to the senator, the ability of an MP to reduce school fees to such levels depends largely on the unique structural and financial circumstances within each constituency.

Cheruiyot explained that one of the key factors enabling Ndindi Nyoro’s programme is the staffing structure in Kiharu’s public schools.

In many of the constituency’s schools, a large number of teachers are employed and paid by the Teachers Service Commission, meaning their salaries are fully covered by the national government.

This arrangement allows constituency resources, particularly funds from the National Government Constituencies Development Fund, to be redirected toward supporting school operations and subsidising fees.

He noted that this situation is not the same in many other parts of the country, where schools rely heavily on teachers hired by Boards of Management or Parent Teacher Associations. I

In such areas, local leaders are forced to allocate substantial amounts of constituency funds to pay these teachers’ salaries, leaving little room to subsidise school fees further.

The senator emphasised that reducing fees without addressing teacher remuneration would place schools under financial strain and risk disrupting learning.

He argued that while the intention behind capping fees is commendable, doing so without sufficient resources could negatively affect the quality of education and the welfare of teachers.

Cheruiyot made it clear that Ndindi Nyoro’s initiative should not be used as a benchmark to criticise other MPs, noting that leadership decisions must be guided by the realities on the ground.

He acknowledged that different constituencies face different challenges, including varying numbers of schools, student populations, staffing needs, and competing development priorities.

While praising Nyoro for prioritising education in Kiharu, Cheruiyot urged Kenyans to understand that effective leadership does not follow a one size fits all approach.

He maintained that MPs who have not implemented similar fee caps are not necessarily neglecting education, but may be directing limited resources toward other urgent needs such as infrastructure, bursaries, or teacher support.

The debate has highlighted broader concerns about education funding in Kenya, especially as parents continue to struggle with the rising cost of living.

Although the government provides capitation for free day secondary education, additional levies and operational costs remain a burden for many families, prompting local leaders to seek creative ways to bridge the gap.

Ndindi Nyoro’s KSh 500 school fees policy has positioned Kiharu as a reference point in conversations around affordable education, but Cheruiyot’s remarks underline the complexity of translating such initiatives to a national scale.

As the discussion continues, education stakeholders are calling for more sustainable and equitable solutions that take into account regional disparities while ensuring access to quality education for all learners.