Kenya's school categorisation gives us a false sense of unity

Education CS Ezekiel Machogu and Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala at Mukumu Girls on April 15, 2023.[File, Standard]

The categorisation of schools into National, Provincial (now Extra-County), County, and District (or Sub-County) tiers is sold as a masterstroke for national cohesion. The narrative is seductive, positioning national schools to mix bright minds from across the republic, forging bonds that transcend tribe and region.

Provincial ones bridge the gap, while district schools ensure local access. But let’s cut through the rhetoric, this system is a carryover of colonial engineering, repackaged to perpetuate elite privilege and ethnic hierarchies. Its hidden motives?